Songwriters File Suit Over Two Britney Spears Tracks

Philadelphia-based songwriters Michael Cottrill and Lawrence Wnukowski have filed a lawsuit against Britney Spears, claiming that two songs on her second Jive album, "Oops! ... I Did it Again," infringe on a song they offered the artist. The suit, filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia, also names as defendant Jive and parent Zomba, BMG Music Publishing, and management company Wright Entertainment Group.

The suit claims that the Cottrill-Wnukowski composition "What You See Is What You Get" was submitted to Spears' representatives in late 1999/early 2000 as potential material for an upcoming album, but the writers were told it would not be used. "Oops!" was released in May 2000; the writers claim that the tracks "What U See (Is What U Get)" and "Can't Make You Love Me" make use of portions of their composition, demonstrating "willful infringement."

The songwriters are seeking compensation for profits derived from the infringing songs, an injunction against promoting and selling the album, a revocation of the defendants' copyrights on both Spears songs, and legal fees. "Oops!" has sold 8.9 million units in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan.