Grammy-winning artist Dua Lipa finds herself embroiled in yet another legal battle over her hit track “Levitating.” The singer and Warner Music are currently facing a lawsuit from producer Bosko Kante, who alleges that his “talk box” recording was used in remixed versions of the song without his permission.

In a federal court filing on Monday (July 31), Kante claimed that he had created a “talk box” track specifically for use in Dua Lipa’s original version of “Levitating.” However, he contends that the track’s creators had no rights to use it in subsequent remixes. Billboard reported that Kante’s lawyers made efforts to resolve the matter outside of litigation, but Dua Lipa and Warner Music allegedly showed an unwillingness to cooperate or acknowledge the infringement of Kante’s copyrights.

Having previously contributed talk box performances for artists like Kanye West and Big Boi, Kante went on to establish his company, ElectroSpit, in 2014. The company offers a proprietary digital version of the Talkbox device. According to Kante’s claims, Stephen Kozmeniuk, one of the producers of “Levitating,” approached him in 2014 to create a talk box performance for incorporation into Dua Lipa’s song.

Kante asserts that he did so and reached an oral agreement allowing the use of the track in the original release of “Levitating.” However, he argues that the deal did not extend to cover any future remixes beyond the initial version. This lawsuit arises because Dua Lipa and Warner Music allegedly used Kante’s work without proper authorization in the remixes, including those featuring artists like DaBaby and The Blessed Madonna.

Kante’s lawyers further contend that the remixes used a larger portion of his work than the original version, and no permission was sought or granted by Kante for the use of his composition or sound recording.

This is not the first legal challenge Dua Lipa has faced regarding “Levitating.” In March 2022, the Florida reggae band Artikal Sound System filed a lawsuit claiming that the song copied the hook of their 2017 track, “Live Your Life.” However, US District Judge Sunshine Sykes temporarily dismissed the case in favor of Dua Lipa in June of this year, as the band was unable to substantiate their allegations.

Additionally, another case brought by songwriters L. Russell Brown and Sandy Linzer accused Dua Lipa of borrowing the melody of “Levitating” from their songs “Wiggle and Giggle All Night” (1979) and “Don Diablo” (1980). The status of this case is yet to be resolved in court.

As the legal battles surrounding “Levitating” continue, the music industry and fans alike will be watching closely to see how these lawsuits unfold. Dua Lipa’s undeniable talent and massive global success have made her a prominent figure in the music world, and these legal challenges underscore the importance of protecting artists’ creative rights in an ever-evolving digital landscape.