Kanye West has suffered a setback in his ongoing copyright dispute over Vultures 2. A federal judge has rejected Ye’s request to remove references to his past antisemitic remarks and comments about the Holocaust from a lawsuit filed by singer Alice Merton over the unauthorized sampling of her music.
The lawsuit centers on “Gun To My Head,” a track from Vultures 2 that allegedly samples Merton’s song “Blindside” without permission. Ye’s legal team argued that references to his controversial public statements were irrelevant to the copyright dispute and could unfairly influence how the case is viewed.
Merton’s legal team, however, maintained that Ye’s past remarks were relevant to the circumstances surrounding the sample-clearance process. According to the singer’s side, those statements played a significant role in her decision not to authorize the use of her music.
The judge ultimately sided against Ye’s request, determining that the disputed references could have some relevance to the case. The ruling does not decide whether copyright infringement occurred, but it allows the material to remain part of the litigation at this stage.
How the “Vultures 2” Copyright Dispute Started
According to the report, Ye’s team approached BMG Rights Management in February 2024 to seek permission to use “Blindside.” Merton declined the request, with her side reportedly explaining that the artist’s values did not align with Ye’s.
Despite the refusal, “Gun To My Head” was released on streaming platforms. BMG allegedly asked Ye to stop using the material, but the dispute eventually escalated into a lawsuit filed the following year.
Ye’s legal team sought to have the references to antisemitism and the Holocaust removed from the court filings, describing them as unrelated and prejudicial. Merton’s attorneys argued that the background was important to explaining why permission was denied in the first place.
The judge also reportedly pointed to Ye’s history of copyright disputes as a reason to consider his familiarity with the rules governing the use of other artists’ work.
Kanye West Must Respond to the Lawsuit
The ruling marks another legal challenge for Ye as he continues navigating disputes tied to his music catalog. The court has ordered him to respond to Merton’s lawsuit by October 23, 2026, according to the report.
For now, the case remains focused on whether the song used Merton’s work without authorization and what legal consequences may follow. The judge’s decision to keep the controversial references in the filings is a procedural development—not a final determination of liability.
As the case moves forward, the dispute highlights the complicated relationship between copyright law, an artist’s public conduct, and the decisions other musicians make when asked to license their work.