In a lawsuit filed in a District Court in Los Angeles last week, Clinton claimed a remix of the group's 2003 hit 'Shut Up' had sampled his song '(Not Just) Knee Deep' without permission.

Clinton's song originally appeared on his 1979 album 'Uncle Jam Wants You' and has previously been sampled by De La Soul, Snoop Dogg and 2Pac.

He said he became aware of Black Eyed Peas' use of his song in 1999 when a record producer came to him requesting a licence for a new remix.

He turned down the request, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Clinton is seeking damages of $150,000 per infringement and an injunction that will stop any further distribution of the remixed version.

(by Jason Gregory)