Jay Z Doesn’t Want Criminal Past Brought Up in “Big Pimpin” Copyright Infringement Case

According to TMZ, Jay Z is set to testify in the “Big Pimpin” copyright infringement case, but he’s reportedly filed a motion to not have his criminal past used against him during the case.

What exactly does the motion mean if it passes? It means the jury wouldn’t be able to consider his criminal past as well as his net worth in determining the outcome of the case. A judge has not decided on what the outcome will be of the motion, but the trial does begin on Oct. 13., where Jay and Timbaland will both take the stand, said TMZ.

The infringement in question in “Big Pimpin” is from Baligh Hamdi’s 1957 Egyptian song, “Khosara, Khosara.” The late singers nephew Osama Ahmed Fahmy is suing on behalf of his uncle, claiming Jay Z and Timbaland stole the sample from the song.

Timbaland has claimed in the past that a company that was a  subsidy of EMI at the time actually cleared the sample in question, of which Fahmy claims was not a valid deal. Read more at Complex.