It is being widely reported that two rappers, Ludacris and Kanye are accused of stealing the lyrics to their hit song "Stand Up" from a song by a little known rap group, It's Our Family, called "Straight Like That". The specific accusation seems to be that "Stand Up" repeats many time the phrase "just like that" while the song "Straight Like That" repeats the phrase "straight like that." I guess the accusation is that "It's Our Family" owns the rights to the words "like that" at least if it is repeated enough times. But hey it is their intellectual property, right? Here are the relevant lyrics from "Stand Up"

[Chorus: Ludacris and (Shawna)]
When I move you move (just like that?)
When I move you move (just like that?)
When I move you move (just like that?)
Hell yeah! Hey DJ bring that back!
(When I move you move) just like that?
(When I move you move) just like that?
(When I move you move) just like that?
(Hell yeah, Hey DJ bring that back!)

and from "Straight Like That"

[capone] It's thugged out entertainment nigga
[final chapter] Straight like that
[capone] We cut, shoot, stab, sell crack
[algado] Straight like that
[capone] We eat, sleep, shit street life
[algado] Straight like that
[capone] We get knocked bail the same night
[algado] Straight like that

The similarity is obvious.

Addendum June 5, 2006: Another triumph for common sense in the courts. "Our Family" lost.