A songwriter is claiming that Travis Scott, SZA, and Future used elements of her song without permission, triggering a copyright infringement lawsuit.
Filed on January 8, 2025, by Victory Boyd, an artist signed to Roc Nation, the complaint alleges that the trio’s 2023 collaboration “Telekinesis” utilized aspects of her 2019 track “Like the Way It Sounds” without consent. The lawsuit names several defendants, including Cactus Jack Records, Epic Records, Sony Music, and the luxury watch brand Audemars Piguet, in addition to the songwriters involved.
Boyd asserts that the defendants intentionally copied her original work, specifically her lyrics, when they released the infringing song. Boyd claims to have shared “Like the Way It Sounds” with Kanye West and recorded a version of the track, “Ultrasounds,” which she believes was later shared with Scott, although the version with West was never officially released.
In the complaint, Boyd alleges that Scott, SZA, and Future used her song as the foundation for “Telekinesis,” featured on Scott’s 2023 album Utopia. Boyd insists that she did not grant permission for the inclusion of her work in the track and contends that her music was left in a Wyoming studio where Scott worked on the song.
According to the lawsuit, the trio’s actions were intentional, with Boyd claiming they copied both her lyrics and melody during the creation of the song. Boyd was reportedly credited as a songwriter but had no knowledge that her music would be used in such a way.
Additionally, Boyd accuses Audemars Piguet of partnering with the artists on a marketing campaign that featured “Telekinesis,” despite her lack of consent. Boyd is seeking damages, including a recall and destruction of all copies of the song and a full accounting of all profits made from the track’s distribution and promotion.
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