Madonna Sued Over Sample Used In Vogue

Madonna is being sued over a sample used in her 1990 hit Vogue. Even though its been 22 years since Madge first asked listeners to strike a pose, record label VMG alleges the singer stole samples from one of their songs for use in her hit single.

E! Online reports that VMG has filed a lawsuit for copyright infringement against both Madonna and her label, WB Records. They claim the performer, who is currently on a mammoth world tour, nabbed samples from the track Ooh I Love It (Love Break) by Salsoul Orchestra, released in 1977.

More specifically, VMG claims that horns and strings were taken from the earlier track and used in Vogue without permission. In a statement released Friday, the label said:

The portions of Love Break, which have been copied into Vogue and all its various mixes, remixes, videos, YouTube versions etc, are numerous but intentionally hidden. The horn and strings in Vogue are intentionally sampled from Love Break throughout.

So why the delay of more than two decades in spotting this? According to VMG, the technology to detect the reused sample has only recently been made available. This, argues the record label, is because it had been intentionally altered and hidden by producer Richard Shep Pettibone, who was hired to mix Love Break and who also worked on Vogue. Hmm. The filed lawsuit adds:

The unauthorized sampling w! as delib erately hidden by [Madonna] within Vogue so as to avoid detection. It was only when VMG specifically looked for the sample, with the technology available to it in 2011, that the sampling could be confirmed.

VMG is seeking compensation in addition to Madonnas profits that are attributable to the copyrighted material. Which, you know, is probably quite a lot the single alone has sold well over 3 million copies, while the royalties due on such a universally popular track are likely to be monstrous.

The singer has not responded to the allegations.

Back in January, you may recall the boot was on the other foot, with Madonna herself mentioning the similarities between her single Express Yourself and Lady Gagas track Born This Way. While no accusations of out-and-out thievery were made, Madonna described Gagas track as reductive, and later incorporated the chorus to Born This Way into a live rendition of Express Yourself on her MDNA tour.

Watch the videos below and make your own mind up about the Love Break/'Vogue allegations: