Legal Victory for Beyoncé: Court Dismisses Copyright Lawsuit Over 'Alien Superstar' Sample
A recent court ruling has favored Beyoncé's Parkwood Entertainment by dismissing a copyright lawsuit related to the introduction of the song "Alien Superstar" from her Grammy-winning Renaissance album. The legal battle revolved around the robotic narration at the beginning of the track, which sampled John Holiday's 1998 house track "Moonraker." Parkwood had obtained a license for the sample from Holiday before the song's release in 2022, paying him $10,000, giving him a songwriting credit, and a 0.5% royalty share.
The lawsuit was filed in 2025 by Hirose Enterprises LLC from Florida, claiming ownership of the copyright to "Moonraker" after acquiring the rights through the now-defunct Soundmen on Wax label. However, the case was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Mark C. Scarsi on the grounds that Hirose Enterprises did not have the legal standing to sue as it was not officially formed when the complaint was filed.
Judge Scarsi highlighted the procedural flaw in his decision, emphasizing that the plaintiff had no legal existence at the time of filing the lawsuit. Consequently, the claims against Parkwood, Sony Music Entertainment, Sony Music Publishing, and Warner Chappell were all dismissed, with Beyoncé not being named as a defendant in the case.
Despite the court's ruling, Hirose Enterprises is considering its next steps, according to their attorney DaShawn Hayes. The plaintiff remains determined to pursue the case against Parkwood and Beyoncé until they believe their grievances have been addressed and resolved. Parkwood representatives have not publicly commented on the outcome of the case.
This legal dispute is the latest in a series of challenges related to Beyoncé's Renaissance album, known for its extensive use of licensed samples and interpolations. In a previous incident in 2022, the song "Alien Superstar" faced scrutiny over its use of "I'm Too Sexy," which was addressed by Beyoncé's team confirming that the interpolation had been properly licensed and compensated prior to the song's release.