Dua Lipa Faces Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Over Hit Song 'Levitating'

Dua Lipa swiftly earned her place as an internationally acclaimed pop star since releasing her eponymous debut album in 2017. 

The singer has now landed in legal hot water, as a small band from Florida is accusing her of stealing the inspiration for one of her hit singles from them.

The band called Artikal Sound System has pressed charges which claim that the musician's record-smashing 2020 song "Levitating" copied a song they released three years prior.

On Tuesday, March 1, a reggae band from Flordia pressed charges against Lipa for allegedly creating her famous 2020 single "Levitating" using one of their 2017 tracks, according to Billboard.

"Levitating" was part of the singer's second album "Future Nostalgia." It graced Billboard's Hot 100 songs chart for 68 weeks and became number 1 on the list in 2021.

The single also earned Lipa the historic title as the longest-running top 10 songs ever by a female artist on the chart. 

Artikal Sound System is now claiming that her success is founded on theft and filed a lawsuit in that regard at a Los Angeles federal court.

The band, which came together in 2013 and is located in South Florida, believes that their single “Live Your Life” from their 2017 EP "Smoke and Mirrors" was ripped off by the "New Rules" singer.

The outlet noted that Artikal Sound System's complaint was not lengthy and revolved around allegations of copyright infringement of their song.

The band did not provide much information about Lipa's alleged track theft but noted that their single was way too alike that it is "highly unlikely" she is innocent.

The lawsuit claims that the "Don't Start Now" singer previously had "access" to "Live Your Life" and then copied it. Warner Records were not exempted from the charges as well.

Artikal Sound System also mentioned the renowned record company, Warner Music Group, and others who helped create Lipa's song in their legal complaint.

While Lipa's claims to her 2020 single may be under questioning, she remains the founder of two new creative platforms.

In February, The Blast disclosed that the "Blow Your Mind" singer launched a podcast titled “At Your Service" where she sits down to discuss a range of topics with guests.

Lipa also aims to tell her listeners various stories around multiple areas of interest. Her goal for the show is to differentiate her podcast from the countless others currently available. 

"At Your Service" will provide content listeners with "deep, thoughtful conversations between Dua and a lineup of high-profile guests- many of whom you won’t find on just any podcast," per Fader.

Lipa is keeping up with her promises to wow her audience. Her guests have included K-pop idol CL, Pushcart Prize-winning journalist Lisa Taddeo, and Oliver Rousteing, the creative director of the French fashion house Balmain.

Lipa also looked beyond audio means of telling notable stories when she launched her newsletter Service 95 in early February.

The written platform brings a wide array of topics to the inboxes of subscribers who have varying interests. Nylon reported that Lipa's hope for Service 95 is to offer readers a “way to find order in the chaos.”

The "Be The One" musician also wishes to get closer to her fans by sharing the things she loves with them through her newsletter.

Lipa noted she experiences a lot of joy when “telling people what [she’s] learned about in any given city," and she loves finding connections in our shared experiences, which explains her new creative ventures. 

Lipa has decided to part ways with Tap Management, the UK-based group she joined as a cocktail bar waitress in London. The company invested in her impressive musical talent, aiding her journey to superstardom.

The Blast revealed that multiple reports noted that the "One Kiss" singer's exit was a shock to the company's executives.

Lipa was reportedly no longer comfortable with the share she receives from the recording and commercial arrangements brokered on her behalf by the management company.

The singer's affairs are currently managed by her father Dukagjin, while she considers offers from other management companies.