Music superstar Beyoncé is facing a copyright infringement lawsuit claiming her 2022 song “Alien Superstar” incorporates a spoken-word introduction from a different composition without the proper licence. The complaint, filed by a company and a producer who say they own rights to the piece Moonraker, seeks to halt profits from the track and recover unspecified damages.
What the claim says
The plaintiff named in reports is Hirose Enterprise, along with producer Shuji Hirose. According to media coverage of the court filing, they contend that the opening spoken passage used in Beyoncé’s song is drawn from a performance of Moonraker sung by John Holiday.
“Please do not be alarmed, remain calm. Do not attempt to leave the dancefloor. The DJ booth is conducting a troubleshoot test of the entire system.”
The lawsuit reportedly claims Beyoncé and her team later pursued a licence from Holiday himself, but that Holiday had previously transferred his ownership interest in the composition. Hirose Enterprise alleges it was not approached for clearance and says it notified Beyoncé’s team of the alleged infringement before the album continued to be sold.
Relief sought and legal posture
According to the report, Hirose Enterprise is asking a judge to issue an injunction to stop Beyoncé from profiting from Alien Superstar until the dispute is resolved, and is seeking unspecified monetary damages. The filing further asserts that the matter concerns ownership and licensing of rights in the original composition rather than the performance alone.
Neither the full court papers nor any response from Beyoncé or her representatives were provided in the report. At this stage the matter appears to be a civil claim alleging unauthorised use of copyrighted material rather than criminal conduct.
Context and potential consequences
High-profile copyright suits over sampling, interpolations or spoken snippets are a recurring feature of the modern music business. Outcomes can range from private settlements and attribution adjustments to court rulings that award damages or impose injunctions limiting distribution or earnings from disputed tracks.
Practical consequences for the album or single could include changes to publishing credits, negotiated payments to rights-holders, or, in rarer cases, temporary removal of a track from streaming services while the dispute is litigated or settled. The suit may also prompt renewed scrutiny of how licences are cleared when multiple parties hold interests in a composition.
- Claimant: Hirose Enterprise and producer Shuji Hirose
- Alleged source work: Moonraker (performance by John Holiday)
- Accused track: Alien Superstar (from Beyoncé’s 2022 album Renaissance)
- Relief sought: injunction and unspecified damages
Legal disputes of this sort often hinge on the specifics of copyright ownership and the chain of title: who owns the composition and what rights were transferred or retained. The report notes the plaintiff maintains Holiday had assigned his interest in the composition decades earlier, which is central to Hirose Enterprise’s claim that a licence from the performer alone was insufficient.
Artist’s prior statements
When she discussed Renaissance on social media, Beyoncé framed the album as a creative refuge during difficult times, describing it as a space to explore and feel free. In that post she wrote about the album’s intention to provide a safe, judgment-free environment for listeners.
“Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world. It allowed me to feel free and adventurous in a time when little else was moving.”
The case is an early reminder that even celebrated works can face legal challenges tied to the complex web of rights in music publishing. As this matter progresses through the courts or otherwise resolves, it will be watched closely by artists, publishers and rights managers who navigate licensing in an era when even brief vocal passages can prompt litigation.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Alleged infringing recording | Alien Superstar (Renaissance, 2022) |
| Alleged original work | Moonraker (performed by John Holiday) |
| Claimants | Hirose Enterprise; Shuji Hirose |
| Relief sought | Injunction; unspecified damages |
