Avril Lavigne Sued Over Girlfriend  7/6/07

Pop punk Avril Lavigne has been named in a new copyright lawsuit filed by the founder of 1970s group the Rubinoos.

Tommy Dunbar claims the Canadian singer's Girlfriend hit borrows heavily from the 1978 song, I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend, which he wrote with then-Rubinoos' road manager James Gangwer.

Lavigne's publishing company, Avril Lavigne Publishing, and the co-writer of Girlfriend, producer/remixer Dr. Luke, are also named as defendants in the suit.

The pop star's manager, Terry McBride, insists the suit has "no basis,"

adding, "Our musicologist says there is no similarities of melody, choral progression or meter."

But McBride admits he and his client are in a no-win situation, and they may be forced to settle the case out of court.

He adds, "You are forced to consider doing this because American lawyers can do these cases on contingency. If I defend and win, it costs me $300,000. If I go to get my costs back, the other party declares bankruptcy.

You end up footing the bill."