Britney Spears is being sued for copyright infringement. The lyrics of the song Sometimes which appeared on Britney’s debut 1999 debut album "... Baby One More Time" and on last year's "Greatest Hits: My Prerogative" are nearly identical to those written by songwriter Steve Wallace.

A lawyer for Steve Wallace filed a complaint May 5 in federal court against Britney Spears, her album promoter, Sony/BMG Music Publishing, and recording and publishing companies affiliated with the singer.

The complaint acknowledges Wallace did not formally copyright his song until 2003. A few weeks after writing the song in 1990, he executed what's commonly known as a "poor man's" copyright: He placed his work in a sealed envelope and obtained a postmark. He shopped the song around to publishers in 1994 and submitted it to a lyric contest in Pennsylvania in 1997.

Wallace also submitted as an exhibit a copy of what he claims is an e-mail from Spears in which she wrote: "I now know for a fact that you wrote Sometimes. But there's nothing I can do about it. That's all I can say about it." It's not clear from the copy when Spears allegedly wrote the e-mail.

Spears, 23, obtained a US copyright for "Sometimes" on January 22, 1999. A side-by-side comparison submitted as evidence shows that both songs are nearly identical.

Wallace, 34, who writes pop, country and gospel songs, suffers from dystopia, a neurological disorder that results in tremors at times, and prevents him from talking, said his lawyer, John Ritchison.

Spears' publicity office referred calls to Sony/BMG executive Wade Leak, who said it would have no comment on the lawsuit.

The complaint does not specify the damages Wallace is seeking - other than $150,000 for each instance in which Wallace's copyright was infringed upon. 

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