Noa Kirel and Eden Ben Zaken face potential massive lawsuit
The singers received a pre-lawsuit warning over alleged copyright infringement in the song "Ani Meshakeret". Egyptian creators are demanding recognition of their rights and a share of the revenue.
Noa Kirel and Eden Ben Zaken may find themselves at the center of a legal battle after receiving a pre-lawsuit warning letter regarding alleged copyright infringement of their joint song "Ani Meshakeret" ("I am lying").
The warning letter was sent by attorney Eldauf Siam Abu Bakr, representing Egyptian creators Mustafa Siam, Samah Al-Ashri, and composer Muhammad Irab Al-Sayed. They claim to be the rightful owners of the original Egyptian work.
The letter alleges that "Ani Meshakeret" constitutes a substantial copy of the original work. According to the creators, this is not a matter of general similarity, but the copying of key elements, including the melody, the song's structure, the melodic sequence, and the use of a recurring verbal phrase.
It is further claimed that the Egyptian work was published before the release of the Israeli song and garnered millions of views on YouTube and wide exposure on social media.
"No permission was granted to use the work, the creators were not credited, and no compensation was paid to them," the letter states.
As part of the demand, the creators require that their rights as original authors be recognized within seven days. They also demand to settle their share of the economic rights, including publishing rights and future income. If their demands are not met, they intend to take legal action. No response has been provided on behalf of Noa Kirel and Eden Ben Zaken.
