The Guns N' Roses camp has issued a formal response to a new lawsuit claiming the band plagiarized parts of two songs by German musician Ulrich Schnauss on a 'Chinese Democracy' track. Reacting on Tuesday, GNR manager Irving Azoff said, "The band vigorously contests these claims and intends to respond accordingly."

"The band believed when the record came out and still believes that there are no unauthorized samples on the track," Azoff explained. "The snippets of 'ambient noise' in question were provided by a member of the album's production team who has assured us that these few seconds of sound were obtained legitimately."

"Artists these days can't read the minds of those they collaborate with and therefore are unfortunately vulnerable to claims like this one," Azoff added. "While the band resents the implication that they would ever use another artist's work improperly and are assessing possible counterclaims, they are confident this situation will be satisfactorily resolved."

Legal representatives of the band and its production team plan to respond formally in the near future. As previously reported, Schnauss records for label Independiente and the US branch of Domino Recording Company. Those labels are seeking $1 million for the unauthorized use of samples of the Schnauss tracks 'Wherever You Are' and 'A Strangely Isolated Place' on the Axl Rose and Tommy Stinson-penned track 'Riad N' the Bedouins.'