Meat Loaf might end up with a lot less bread by the time is all over.
A legal beef has emerged over Meat Loaf’s 1993 smash hit “I’d Do Anything for Love (but I Won’t Do That)” via a copyright infringement lawsuit filed Wednesday.
In the lawsuit, filed in federal court in California, Enclosed Music says that “I’d Do Anything for Love” copies the 1989 song “[I’d Do] Anything for You,” by Jon Dunmore Sinclair and Mike Molina, which Enclosed claims the copyright to.
Jim Steinman, who also penned the Meat Loaf tune, is also named as a defendant in the suit.
According to the suit, “Both songs share a similar chord progression. However, the portions of each work that drive the recognizability (the distinct nature) of both songs are the chorus and melody as they relate to the lyrics, ‘I would do anything for…’ The Infringing Song essentially copied the ‘soul’ of the original work, which renders both pieces substantially similar.”
So … they took the words right out of their mouth?
The suit is seeking unspecified damages, including combined statutory damages of no less than $180,000 per infringement.
The potential amount at stake could be pretty significant; according to the suit, “Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell,” the album containing the Meat Loaf track, has sold more than 14 million copies worldwide.
TheWrap has reached out to a representative for Meat Loaf for comment on the lawsuit.
Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.
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Former TMZ producer Jarrett Gaeta slapped his former employer with a lawsuit in June 2014, claiming he was wrongly terminated. Gaeta was let go after a subordinate accused him of "racist behavior," including defending blackface and sending pictures of watermelons to African-American employees.
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CNN America was sued in Aug. 2014 by a pair of plaintiffs who claim that correspondent Arwa Damon bit one of them and threatened both during a drunken altercation at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.
"Boardwalk Empire" actress Paz de la Huerta sued Lionsgate in Aug. 2014 claiming she was run over by an ambulance while filming "Nurse 3D." Lionsgate filed a motion to dismiss, which De La Huerta opposed on Jan. 23, 2015. Lionsgate then opposed her opposition on Jan. 30, 2015, in a seemingly neverending loop of opposing motions.
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Rapper Rakim Mayers, aka A$AP Rocky, was sued in civil court in June 2014 for allegedly assaulting a woman while making his way through a crowd during the 2013 Made in America Festival.
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Nicki Minaj’s former hairstylist and wig designer filed a $30 million lawsuit against the rapper in 2014 for allegedly stealing his wig designs and costing him a potential reality show. A judge later dismissed the case for lack of sufficient evidence.
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Kim Kardashian and Kanye West filed suit against YouTube founder Chad Hurley on Oct. 31, 2013, claiming he posted a video of the couple’s surprise engagement to his website without permission. The process was delayed when Hurley’s reps filed an anti-SLAPP motion in an attempt to have the case dismissed.
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Jahmel Binion filed a lawsuit against Shaquille O’Neal in July 2014 when O’Neal posted a photo to his Instagram account mocking Binion, who suffers from a rare condition that causes facial abnormalities, sparse hair and missing teeth. Binion claimed defamation, emotional distress and invasion of privacy in the $25,000 lawsuit, and after pressure from the public O’Neal apologized.
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In 2014 singer Chris Brown was mentioned in a lawsuit filed by the cousin of artist Frank Ocean. The defendant claimed Brown and an associate allegedly kicked and punched him when he confronted them about parking in a spot designated for Ocean at a Los Angeles recording studio. Ocean, who was also injured, later said he wouldn't seek criminal or civil penalties.
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From embezzlement to slander, there’s no shortage of celebrity court action
Between Lindsay Lohan firing back at Fox News, Mariah Carey allegedly short changing her domestic help, and Sly Stone winning millions after suing his ex-manager -- stars often turn to the courts to address their squabbles and strife.
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