Pharrell Moves to Dismiss Chad Hugo’s Copyright Suit, Citing an Unclear Claim

Pharrell Williams is asking a federal court to throw out Chad Hugo’s lawsuit against him, arguing that after three years and three versions of the complaint, his Neptunes partner has yet to identify a copyright claim that belongs in federal court.

In a new filing, Williams’ lawyers note that the original complaint named no specific songs, pointing only to the album No One Ever Really Dies. An amended version listed eight tracks that were not on that record, among them Rosalía’s “Motomami” and “La Combi Versace,” “Cash In Cash Out,” and songs featuring Latto and Tyler, the Creator. All eight disappeared from the second amended complaint filed last month.

What remains is EarthGang’s “U Gotta,” and even there, the filing argues, Hugo does not say whether he is claiming the musical composition, the sound recording, or both. “The [second amended complaint] is so vague and ambiguous with respect to the copyrights placed at issue that defendants cannot reasonably prepare a response,” the motion states, adding that Hugo “has no idea which compositions or sound recordings he supposedly authored.”

Williams wants the entire case dismissed. Without a viable federal copyright claim, he argues, Hugo’s state-law claims for breach of fiduciary duty and an incomplete accounting should fall with it, leaving him free to pursue those separately in state court. The complaint still cites No One Ever Really Dies, which debuted at Number 10 on the Billboard charts, and alleges damages that could exceed $1 million from that project alone.

Hugo’s lawyer did not respond to a request for comment. The court has not ruled on the motion, and no hearing has been scheduled.