Hirschfield Dismisses Copyright Suit Against Drake

Aviel Calev Hirschfield has voluntarily dismissed his copyright lawsuit against Drake over the song “Janice STFU,” ending the case without a ruling on whether Drake used Hirschfield’s work. The October 27 court filing states that the dismissal is without prejudice, allowing Hirschfield to bring the claims again. It gives no reason for his decision. Hirschfield filed the complaint in federal court on October 16. He alleged that he wrote and recorded the song’s chorus in January 2026, then sent it to producers connected with Drake but received no response. The complaint claimed that the released track used the chorus without credit or payment. Those assertions were allegations, not findings by a court. Drake’s representatives denied the claims and said Drake wrote the song without any connection to or knowledge of Hirschfield. The parties’ accounts of who wrote the chorus remain in conflict. Because the case was dismissed before its merits were adjudicated, the filing does not resolve that dispute. Hirschfield’s complaint said he had supplied recording files and metadata to support his account. After a recording purporting to be his demo circulated online, a representative for...