Ghostface Killah and Sony have won a landmark copyright infringement case against Abilene Music regarding lyric changes to the Louis Armstrong classic "What a Wonderful World." The plaintiff, accused Killah, Raekwon and the Alchemist (and Sony, who released the album), of infringing copyright in the song.
Where the original sings of "trees of green" the lyric adapted by the rappers goes:
"I see buds that are green, red roses too.
"I see the blunts, for me and you.
"And I say to myself: What a wonderful world."
A New York federal court upheld the "fair use" doctrine by throwing out the lawsuit. Judge Gerard Lynch said the rap was clearly a parody, intended to criticise and ridicule the cheerful perspective of the original song. The slang reference to marijuana and the dark nature of the rap tune was in stark contrast to the mood of beauty in the original song, the court pointed out.
