Judge: Rapper's Lawsuit Over 'Telekinesis' Can Proceed

A federal judge has denied a motion to dismiss a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by gospel singer Victory Boyd against Travis Scott, SZA, and Future. Boyd claims the hit 2023 song "Telekinesis," which features SZA and Future, was an unauthorized adaptation of her demo "Like the Way It Sounds." The artists had sought to have the case thrown out.

In a ruling on Monday, March 9, Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil stated that the defendants had "come nowhere near shouldering their burden" for dismissal. The artists argued that Ye (formerly Kanye West) had given them permission to use the demo, but Boyd's lawyers dispute this. The judge noted a lack of evidence regarding Ye's alleged co-authorship and collaborative relationship with Boyd, which was central to the defendants' dismissal argument.

While the judge rejected the outright dismissal, she did remove one claim due to technical issues. Furthermore, the scope of financial damages was limited because Boyd did not copyright her demo until after "Telekinesis" was released in 2023. The case will now proceed to the discovery phase, where evidence will be exchanged, and depositions will be taken.