Bosses at British film music publishing company Cutting Edge Music Limited filed documents in California federal court, claiming the singer, 25, and his producers knowingly used the sample of a track from their film "The MAChine".
The plaintiffs' lawyer, who identifies their firm as a company which "finances films and acquires interest in film score compositions and sound recordings", released the obscure movie featuring a score by composer Tom Raybould in 2013, reported E!Online.
The lawsuit states, "Defendant Mano sent a Twitter direct message stating 'I sampled your music might make it to The Weeknd next album. Huge fan of what you did for the machine movie!'"
In addition to The Weeknd and his producers, record labels Universal, Warner Chappell, Sony/ATV and others are named in the lawsuit.
The plaintiffs are claiming unjust enrichment in addition to copyright infringement and are seeking an unspecified amount of damages and a permanent injunction.
"The Hills" is the chart-topping second single from The Weeknd's acclaimed 2015 album Beauty Behind the Madness.
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