Minaj responded to the lawsuit in February 2019. According to Rolling Stone, citing the response, Minaj argued that interpolation was protected through fair use. Chapman reportedly “did not properly register her copyright claim on the composition” [‘Baby Can I Hold You’]”Therefore, according to the point of sale, it owns that Chapman does not own the” copyright in question “and is therefore unable to pursue the claims asserted in the complaint.”
Regarding the creation of “Sorry,” Minaj’s team defended it.
“”[I]During the creation process, no one turns to the original songwriter (the “rights holder”) for a license to experiment, “according to Minaj’s court report, according to The Hollywood Reporter.” The musicians just experiment. If something works and the recording artist wants to release the song commercially, the record label, managers, and lawyers get involved and get the necessary permission. If granted, the recording will be released commercially. If the authorization is denied, the recording is discarded. nobody gets hurt; and experimentation begins all over again. “
“Recording artists need this freedom to experiment, and rightsholders appreciate the protocol too,” the letter continued. “Often times the rights holder does not want to simply approve use in the abstract – that is, ‘every hip-hop version of your song’. The rights holder wants to hear the latest version before giving permission. The plaintiff here, Tracy Chapman, wants this process turn it upside down. “
