Ben Freeman, who helmed R&B group TRB (Three Real Brothers) contends that he registered the song "Be My Girlfriend" with the Library of Congress, Office of Copyright in September 27, 1995. *NSYNC released "Girlfriend" featuring Nelly and produced by the Neptunes in 2001. Freeman claims that "Girlfriend" infringes on TRB’s "Be My Girlfriend."

Freeman penned and recorded the song for TRB comprised of his sons Ben III, Antoine and Christopher Freeman. He claims the song sold in Pittsburgh without any media coverage, promotion or airplay. At the time of the recording the boys were 10, 12 and 17. Yvonne Freeman, Ben’s wife who also helped market the record, claims that "Too Far Away," a record written by her husband closely resembles *NSYNC’s "Gone."

Both "Girlfiend" and "Gone" were singles off the group’s 2001 LP, Celebrity. Members of *NSYNC, Nelly and Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo of The Neptunes are named in a list of 22 defendants in the suit. There’s no word on what type of damages the suit is seeking.