Nicki Minaj sued by Clive Tanaka for copyright infringement over Starships song

Nicki Minaj is being sued by electronic artist Clive Tanaka for copyright infringement over her hit song Starships.

Clive Tanaka has filed a lawsuit against the rapper, producer RedOne and songwriters Carl Falk, Wayne Hector and Rami Yacoub.

He claims they copied “substantial portions” of his song Neu Chicago for the chart-topping single, which reached number two in the UK last year.

The mysterious electronic artist, who has never revealed his real identity, had attorney Christopher Niro file legal documents on his behalf in Chicago court on Wednesday.

Neu Chicago has amassed 100,000 listens on YouTube and was licensed for two major television adverts in Scandinavia.

The lawsuit alleges RedOne, Carl Falk and Rami Yacoub, who have all lived in neighboring Sweden, had “a very good opportunity” to hear the song.

According to the Chicago Tribune newspaper, Christopher Niro contends: “We believe [the songs] are similar to the point that it is nearly impossible for it to be a coincidence.”

Clive Tanaka is seeking compensation for the damage done to his “professional reputation and goodwill” following the song’s release in March 2012, as well as all the profits Nicki Minaj, 30, and her collaborators have earned from Starships.

This isn’t the first time Nicki Minaj has faced legal trouble over her music.

In 2010, Nicki Minaj was sued for allegedly damaging a pink Lamborghini sports car she rented for her Massive Attack music video shoot.

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