Kanye West Settles Alice Merton Copyright Suit
West reached an out-of-court settlement with Alice Merton and two German music publishers over the unlicensed use of her song Blindside.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Hip-Hop and Rap
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Kanye West has reached an out-of-court settlement in a copyright lawsuit filed by singer Alice Merton and two German music publishers. Merton alleged West used a sample of her 2022 song Blindside in the track Gun to My Head without permission after she refused to grant it.
Why it matters
The case adds to several copyright lawsuits West has faced over the use of music without permission. The settlement underscores how sample clearance disputes can end in litigation when rights holders decline to license a track.
The sampled song Blindside was released in 2022 and appeared on the Vultures 2 digital deluxe edition as part of Gun to My Head. The parties have not publicly disclosed the financial or other terms of the settlement, and the 90-day completion window is the only stated timeline.
The players
Kanye West
Kanye West is a rapper and producer known for a long-running career and a series of high-profile copyright disputes over sampled music.
Alice Merton
Alice Merton is a German-Canadian singer-songwriter who released the 2022 hit Blindside and is the plaintiff in the copyright case.
The details
Merton and two German music publishers filed a copyright lawsuit alleging West used her song Blindside as a sample in Gun to My Head without permission after she refused to license it. The parties agreed to settle the action and anticipate filing a stipulation to dismiss once the settlement terms are satisfied.
Timeline
2022: Alice Merton releases the song Blindside.
Vultures 2 release: Gun to My Head appears on the digital deluxe edition.
Settlement date (unspecified): Out-of-court settlement reached in the Merton case.
90 days after settlement: The case could be reopened if settlement terms are not completed.
Industry Dynamics
Unlicensed sampling disputes have repeatedly drawn hip-hop artists into litigation, from earlier sample-clearance suits to the current wave of rights holders challenging unauthorized use of their recordings. The settlement reflects a broader pattern in which major rap releases face scrutiny over the licensing of borrowed melodies and recordings.
Listeners who stream or purchase Vultures 2 may find the Gun to My Head track affected if the dispute is reopened, since the settlement has not yet been finalized. The settlement is still pending dismissal, so the current availability of the track is not addressed in the source.
The takeaway
Sample clearance remains a live risk for any artist releasing music built on another song's recording. Securing permission before release is far less costly than litigating and settling after the fact.
What happens next
If the settlement terms are not completed within 90 days, the case could be reopened.
Further reading
For more on the genre, see Hip-Hop and Rap coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The News International.
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