Lady Gaga‘s chart-topping ‘Shallow’ may currently hold the record as the most awarded song in music history (click here to read), but if a relatively unknown singer-songwriter has his way the courts will be awarding him millions of dollars in damages for copyright infringement.

The ‘Star is Born’ soundtrack song is the center of a pending lawsuit from singer Steve Ronsen who claims Gaga and team ripped off his 2012 Soundcloud opus.  While not specifically disclosing the amount he is seeking in damages for the alleged infraction, his legal representative, Mark D. Shirian, confirms it will be in the ‘millions’ if this case goes to court.

Determined not to go down without a fight, Gaga’s secured the services of high powered attorney Orin Snyder to help her give a judge (or mediator) a million reasons why ‘Shallow’ is an original. Details inside:

Despite Gaga’s aggressive promo of the song in 2018 and 2019 (see: televised performances, awards sweeps, etc.), Ronsen claims he hadn’t seen the ‘Star Is Born’ movie and wasn’t all that familiar with the song:

“It was brought to my attention by many people that the ‘Shallow’ song sounds like mine. I did not seek this out, I haven’t even seen the movie (I heard it’s pretty good),” Ronsen said in a statement to ET. “I admire Lady Gaga and I just want to get to the bottom of this. There are other writers that wrote the ‘Shallow’ song, including Mark Ronson. I have secured a musicologist who also agrees that the songs are similar. I am simply going about this how anyone else would investigate any possible infringement.”

Ronsen’s legal rep [Shirian] added:

“In an effort to amicably resolve this matter months ago, my office provided Lady Gaga’s legal team, at their request, with an official report from a renowned and respected musicologist and professor who determined that there are significant tempo, melodic, rhythmic and harmonic similarities between the two ‘hooks’ of the songs at issue. Lady Gaga’s team has yet to provide my office with an opposing musicologist report, which we have requested multiple times.”

Snyder clapped back on Gaga’s behalf and went to press to say:

“Mr. Ronsen and his lawyer are trying to make easy money off the back of a successful artist,” Synder said. “It is shameful and wrong,” he added. “I applaud Lady Gaga for having the courage and integrity to stand up on behalf of successful artists who find themselves on the receiving end of such [claims]. Should Mr. Shirian proceed with this case, Lady Gaga will fight it vigorously and will prevail.”

Gaga’s rep also confirmed – contrary to Shirian’s statement – he contacted ‘multiple musicologists’ himself to examine the two tracks.  Those experts, according to him, found no ‘actionable’ similarities.  He went on to say:

“Even Shirian’s own musicologist acknowledged the generic three note progression is present in many other songs predating his client’s song,” he said.

Listen to Ronsen’s song below and judge for yourself.

Your thoughts?