Spears 'fraud' dismissed in court

A lawsuit claiming pop star Britney Spears plagiarised her hit record Sometimes have been dismissed by a judge in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Songwriter Steve Wallace alleged the 23-year-old stole and copyrighted his track, originally penned in 1990, and released her version on her 1999 debut album Baby One More Time, and on 2004's Greatest Hits: My Prerogative.

Wallace maintained that a few weeks after finishing his song, he executed what is known as a 'poor man's' copyright - sealing his work in an envelope and obtaining a postmark - making Spears' later copyright void.

But his suit was thrown out by US District Judge John D Tinder last week, despite a side-by-side comparison of the songs in court showing a striking resemblance.

Spears' lawyer David R Baum quashed rumours the two parties had reached a financial settlement.

He said: "I cannot emphasise enough this was not a settlement but a dismissal."