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      *Chris “Ludacris” Bridges took the stand Thursday at a copyright infringement trial in Manhattan and affirmed that he did not steal lyrics for his 2003 hit “Stand Up,” as his accusers are claiming.

       The rapper-actor, who is being sued along with the song’s producer Kanye West and EMI April Music Inc., said he never received copies of a disc containing the song "Straight Like That" by the East Orange, N.J., group I.O.F.  The rappers claims Luda heard one of their distributed promotional discs before writing “Stand Up,” which contains the similar line, “just like that.”

       When the plaintiff’s lawyer Mel Sachs asked the rapper if he was really telling the jury he had never received copies of the song at three shows in 2002 and 2003, Ludacris replied, "I'm definitely saying that, sir."      

       Earlier in the week, Sachs spent two days trying to prove that members of I.O.F. made sure to get Ludacris copies of their song before he wrote “Stand Up.”      

       While on the stand Thursday, Sachs asked Ludacris: "Sir, before you wrote the song, 'Stand Up,' did you ever hear the term, 'straight like that?'"      

       "No sir," answered Luda. "I never heard anyone use the term." Later, he added, "I do not know what the term 'straight like that' means, sir."      

       Kanye West was also in court Thursday and expected to testify before the one-week trial ends.