Music duo The Bellamy Brothers accuse Britney Spears of plagiarism

February 20, 2011

US pop and country duo are accusing  singer Britney Spears &mdash; also from the United States &mdash; of plagiarism in her latest single "". The group believes that Spears is "ripping off" one of their songs, a 1979 track entitled ""; they are thought to be attempting to have Spears prosecuted.

Howard and David Bellamy claim that Britney Spears' single, the first to be released from her upcoming album , is "too close" to The Bellamy Brothers song. Both tracks have reached number one on various music charts.

Speaking to British , David Bellamy said, "Howard and I have no personal beef with Britney. She’s a talented gal. But professionally we feel completely ripped off. We will without doubt take the appropriate legal action if our attorneys agree we’ve been ripped off."

A spokesperson for Britney Spears, made a statement to the same newspaper. "If this is now a legal matter then I am afraid we would have nothing to say until our lawyers have been alerted," the spokesperson stated.