Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson face copyright lawsuit over 'Uptown Funk'

Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson have been sued by the Minneapolis electro-funk band Collage for copyright infringement for their smash hit "Uptown Funk." It's the third time that Mars and Ronson have been sued for plagiarising the same single.

The '80s electro-funk band claimed that Mars and Ronson admitted that "Uptown Funk" was influenced by early 1980s Minneapolis electro-funk music.

"Upon information and belief, many of the main instrumental attributes and themes of 'Uptown Funk' are deliberately and clearly copied from 'Young Girls,' including, but not limited to, the distinct funky specifically noted and timed consistent guitar riffs present throughout the compositions, virtually if not identical bass notes and sequence, rhythm, structure, crescendo of horns and synthesizers rendering the compositions almost indistinguishable if played over each other and strikingly similar if played in consecutively," according to the complaint obtained by Pitchfork.

The 1980s Minneapolis band demands unspecified damages and profits.

Producer Jeff Bhasker, songwriter Phillip Lawrence, American rapper and songwriter Trinidad James and producer Devon Gallaspy are listed alongside Mars and Ronson. Recording labels including Warner/Chappell Music, Atlantic Records and RCA Records were also listed in the lawsuit.

Last year, The Gap Band was rewarded with songwriting credits after claiming that there was a similarity between their 1979 hit “Oops Up Side Your Head” and "Uptown Funk." The rap group, The Sequence, also claimed earlier this year that Mars and Ronson copied their 1979 song, “Funk You Up.” However, The Sequence did not bring the claim to the court.

Mars is currently promoting his new album "24K Magic," which is due on Nov. 18. In an interview with Carson Daily on 97.1 AMP Radio (via E!), Mars said that 24K Magic is the best album he has ever done. "Out of all three of them this is the one!” Mars said.

“It’s very important that the world hears this album in its entirety. On this album, I really focused on giving you one continuous wave.” Mars said.

Mark Ronson - Uptown Funk ft. Bruno Mars video:

Listen to Collage's 'Young Girls' here.