Producer's Drake Lawsuit Dismissed in 10 Days

A copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Oregon producer Aviel Hirschfield against Drake has been dismissed less than two weeks after its initiation. Hirschfield claimed that the chorus of Drake's hit song "Janice STFU" was based on his own work, inspired by Lykke Li's "I Follow Rivers." Drake's team had vehemently denied these allegations from the outset, characterizing the lawsuit as "manufactured and baseless."

The case, which garnered widespread media attention and online discussion, saw a dramatic turn when Hirschfield officially withdrew the complaint. This occurred shortly after Rolling Stone submitted further inquiries to Hirschfield's attorney, despite an earlier representative's confidence in the producer's allegations and the legitimacy of a leaked demo recording.

Questions surrounding Hirschfield's claims were amplified by inconsistencies, including a producer involved in "Janice STFU" stating the beat was created in March 2026, contradicting Hirschfield's claim of writing a song to that beat in January 2026. Hirschfield, a 33-year-old producer from Portland, Oregon, also has a co-writing credit on Beyoncé's 2022 song "Heated," a connection highlighted in his lawsuit.

Copyright scholars note the significant professional risks songwriters and producers face when pursuing legal action against major artists like Drake, potentially impacting future work opportunities. Entertainment lawyers also frequently encounter and dismiss frivolous copyright claims.