Justin Timberlake, Will.i.am face copyright lawsuit

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Justin Timberlake and collaborator Will.i.am have been faced with a copyright lawsuit over their hit song "Damn Girl."

Janis McQuinton, the sister of disco musician Perry Kibble, claims much of the song, including its rhythm, harmony, melody and hook, were illegally copied from her brother's "A New Day is Here At Last," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Attorney Steven M. Lester filed the suit in the U.S. District Court on behalf of PK Music Performance, Inc. -- who reportedly renewed the copyright license for the song last month -- writing Timberlake's "Damn Girl" is too similar to the disco hit released in 1969.

"Specifically, a substantial part of the drum, conga drum, organ, bass guitar, electric guitar, and saxophone parts in Damn Girl, were all copied from A New Day Is Here At Last," Lester wrote.

McQuinton, who now holds the rights to "A New Day Is Here At Last" is reportedly seeking statutory and actual damages for the alleged copyright infringement, including a DVD of Timberlake's performing the song on tour.