Drake Fights Back Against ‘Janice STFU’ Copyright Lawsuit

​Canadian superstar Drake has hit back hard against a federal copyright lawsuit accusing him of plagiarizing the chart-topping single “Janice STFU,” dismissing the legal claims as a manufactured attempt to exploit his career.

​The controversy centers around a lawsuit filed on October 16 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California by songwriter and producer Aviel Calev Hirschfield. The complaint targets Drake, his OVO Sound imprint, UMG Recordings, and Universal Music Publishing, alleging that the catchy chorus of “Janice STFU”—a standout track from Drake’s May album Iceman—was lifted directly from a demo Hirschfield recorded earlier in the year.

​According to court filings, Hirschfield completed his recording in late January and forwarded the audio files to the production duo FNZ (Michael Mulé and Isaac De Boni) alongside other producers tied to Drake’s inner circle. The Portland-based songwriter claims he received zero communication back, only to later hear his exact lyrics, melody, and cadence echoed word-for-word on the multi-platinum track. Hirschfield maintains that despite presenting metadata and early recording logs to the rapper’s camp to prove priority, his contributions were rebuffed without proper credit or financial compensation. He is now seeking a jury trial alongside unspecified damages and profits generated by the song.

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​Representatives for the Grammy-winning artist have offered a swift and absolute rejection of the claims. In a blistering statement provided to media outlets, a spokesperson for Drake declared that the accusations hold “not one iota of truth”.

​”These allegations are categorically, unequivocally, and completely denied,” the representative stated, labeling the legal action a baseless scheme designed to cash in on the rapper’s monumental success. Legal representation maintained that Drake penned the record independently and had zero exposure to Hirschfield or his unreleased material.

​The high-stakes litigation puts intense scrutiny on “Janice STFU,” which has dominated commercial charts and smashed streaming milestones since its rollout. As legal teams prepare for battle in federal court, the case highlights ongoing tensions surrounding unacknowledged demo leaks and creative contributions within major-label hip-hop production circles.