A federal judge in Los Angeles determined that Mariah Carey had not stolen her perennial megahut.”You’re the only one you want for Christmas“From other songwriters.
Judge Mónica RamÃrez Almadani granted Carey’s request for summary judgment on Wednesday, giving her, co-writer and co-defendant Walter Afanasieff a victory without trial.
In 2023, Louisiana songwriter Andy Stone, attending the stage name Vince Vance, and Troy Powers of Tennessee, filed a $20 million lawsuit alleging that Carrie’s song in 1994 became a holiday standard and an annual streaming sensation.
Their lawyer, Gerald P. Fox, said he was “disappointed” in an email to the Associated Press.
Fox said it was his experience that this level of judges would almost always have to dismiss a music copyright lawsuit and sue him to the ju judge and sue him. My client will soon decide whether to appeal or not.
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The Stone and Powers lawsuit said “You’re the only one I want for Christmas” includes a unique linguistic structure found in someone who is disillusioned with expensive gifts and seasonal comforts, wants to be with their loved ones, and writes letters to Santa Claus accordingly.”
They said “overwhelming possibilities” Carrie and Afanasiev had heard their songs – at one point they reached number 31 on the Billboard Hot Country Chart – and violated copyright by taking important elements from there. Stone was insisting The song is about receiving a “large plane” during the 1993 Christmas season.
Ramirez Armadani agreed to the people of defense after hearing from two experts on both sides. He said the writer adopted the common Christmas cliche that exists before both songs, and used Carrie’s songs differently. She said the plaintiffs did not meet the burden of showing that the songs were essentially similar.
Ramirez Armadani also ordered sanctions against the plaintiff and his attorneys, saying their case and subsequent applications were frivolous and that the plaintiff’s attorney “made no reasonable efforts to ensure that alleged facts claims would support the evidence.”
She said they must pay at least a portion of the defendant’s attorney’s fees.
Carrie’s defense attorney and a spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Carrie’s Christmas Colossus has become an even bigger hit in recent years than in the 1990s. It reached number one on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart for the past six years in a row – airplay, sales and streaming not only makes it a holiday-themed, but also measures the most popular songs each week. There is in the song Broken streaming record It has been played over 2 billion times on Spotify.
Carey and Afanasieff didn’t go to court, but they had their own public disagreements about who wrote how many songs. But in this case, it at least became a temporary ally.
Carrie made a headline earlier when she was I tried to register a trademark only with a nickname “The Queen of Christmas.” She filed a trademark petition in 2021. US Trademark Trials and Appeals Committee rejected the petitionand we will also petition for trademarks that are “Princess Christmas” and “QOC.”
Last month, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Carry announced As one of the candidates for 2025.
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