In a blistering legal filing that pulls back the curtain on Hollywood’s music licensing practices, acclaimed songwriter Sam Roman—professionally known as RØMANS—has sued Paramount Pictures for allegedly using two of his compositions in last year’s ill-fated “Smurfs” movie without permission or payment.
The lawsuit, filed Friday and obtained by Billboard, centers on “Anyone,” a track performed by pop superstar Rihanna, and “Always on the Outside,” performed by actor James Corden. Roman claims the studio not only used both songs without authorization after negotiations collapsed but then attempted to deflect responsibility by pointing fingers at Rihanna herself.
According to court documents, Paramount first approached Roman in 2022 with what seemed like a golden opportunity: write songs for the upcoming “Smurfs” film that would feature Rihanna’s vocals and receive substantial promotional support. The studio allegedly promised “significant backend royalties”—the kind of deal that can generate income for decades when attached to an A-list performer like Rihanna.
Roman, whose songwriting credits include Lewis Capaldi’s chart-topping “Someone You Loved” and collaborations with Ed Sheeran, Camila Cabello, Maroon 5, Alicia Keys, and John Legend, delivered the tracks. But as the film’s release approached, the deal soured. Paramount allegedly informed Roman that “Anyone” would not receive a commercial release after all—a dramatic shift that fundamentally changed the financial equation and brought negotiations to a standstill.
Despite having no signed agreement in place, Paramount released the film in June with both of Roman’s songs featured in what his attorneys describe as “key scenes.” The studio even credited Roman as a songwriter and producer on both tracks—an acknowledgment that makes the alleged non-payment all the more brazen, according to his legal team.
“Paramount knew full well that it had no right to use plaintiff’s intellectual property in this way,” wrote Roman’s attorney Jonathan Steinsapir in the complaint. “Despite these credits, Paramount has still not paid the plaintiff even a penny.”
Perhaps most provocatively, the lawsuit alleges that when confronted about the payment issue, Paramount sought to shift blame onto Rihanna. The studio allegedly told Roman it was “very frustrated by the money it had supposedly spent on Rihanna’s participation” and felt it hadn’t received “an appropriate return from her.”
According to the complaint, Paramount claimed Rihanna had caused the production to go over budget, and therefore, Roman was simply “out of luck” when it came to compensation.
Steinsapir didn’t mince words in characterizing this defense: “Paramount took the tack common to a toddler confronted with wrongdoing: blame someone else. In this case, blame Rihanna.”
The lawsuit makes clear that Roman harbors no ill will toward the pop icon. “Plaintiff has no issue with Rihanna. His issue is squarely with Paramount,” his attorneys state explicitly. Rihanna is not named as a defendant and is not accused of any wrongdoing.
The legal battle emerges from the wreckage of a commercial disaster. The live-action/animated hybrid Smurfs film was released to largely negative reviews and flopped spectacularly at the box office, reportedly losing Paramount approximately $80 million. The studio’s alleged decision to use Roman’s music without payment—despite the film’s massive budget—adds another layer of acrimony to an already troubled production.
Roman is pursuing claims for copyright infringement, fraud, and negligent misrepresentation. The copyright claim is straightforward: using protected creative works without authorization. The fraud and misrepresentation claims stem from Paramount’s alleged promises during negotiations and the subsequent breakdown of the deal.
Representatives for Paramount Pictures did not respond to requests for comment on Monday. A spokeswoman for Rihanna also did not return requests for comment.
As of press time, the case remains in its earliest stages, but it highlights ongoing tensions in the entertainment industry over fair compensation for creative professionals—and raises questions about how major studios handle music licensing when deals fall apart.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Grammy-nominated songwriter Sam Roman (RØMANS) is suing Paramount Pictures for using two of his songs—including Rihanna’s “Anyone”—in the box-office flop Smurfs movie without his permission or payment.
After negotiations broke down when Paramount withdrew its promise of a commercial release, the studio allegedly used the tracks anyway and then blamed Rihanna for budget overruns as an excuse not to pay him.
Roman has been credited but not compensated “a single dime,” according to his lawsuit, which seeks damages for copyright infringement and fraud. Rihanna is not accused of any wrongdoing.
