Jason Derulo Faces Lawsuit Over 'Savage Love' Songwriting Credits: A Legal Battle Unfolds in Los Angeles Federal Court
Jason Derulo was seen in a Los Angeles federal courtroom where a video of his 2024 deposition was played for jurors. The video showed Derulo singing a snippet of his hit song "Savage Love" while being questioned by a lawyer representing Matthew Spatola, who is suing him for writing credit and royalties. Spatola's lawyer claimed that Spatola wrote a critical section of the song and the instrumental bed during sessions at Derulo's home studio. Derulo's lawyer, on the other hand, argued that Spatola was only brought in as a session guitarist and was paid for his services. The trial is expected to last two weeks.
Derulo's lawyer emphasized that Derulo was captivated by the beat of the song and worked extensively on his version of "Savage Love." He stated that Spatola was brought in as a session guitarist and not as a writer. Legal negotiations resulted in Jawsh 685 being credited as the sole producer of the song, with Derulo receiving 25 percent of the publishing ownership. The lawyer argued that Spatola's contributions were insubstantial and that he did not deserve credit for the hit song.
Spatola's lawyer quoted lines from Derulo's book, suggesting a pattern of taking advantage of young artists. He highlighted a passage where Derulo admitted to self-releasing his version of "Savage Love" before having a signed deal with Jawsh 685. The lawyer argued that Derulo failed to acknowledge Spatola's alleged contributions and tried to take advantage of his work. Spatola testified about his background in music and production work, stating his credits with various artists.
The trial will continue with Derulo expected to take the witness stand. Spatola first sued Derulo and Sony in 2023, seeking credit and royalties for his alleged contributions to "Savage Love." The song reached the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 after a remix version by BTS. If the jury rules in favor of Spatola, a second trial will determine any profits owed to the guitarist.