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Federal Judge Dismisses Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” Copyright Lawsuit
A federal judge has dismissed a copyright lawsuit filed by singer Vince Vance against Mariah Carey, alleging her hit “All I Want for Christmas is You” copied his 1988 jingle. The judge ruled that the songs are distinct and lack substantial similarity.
Lead: In a significant ruling, a federal judge has dismissed a copyright lawsuit against pop icon Mariah Carey, filed by country singer Vince Vance. The lawsuit, brought forth in November 2023, claimed that Carey’s popular holiday song “All I Want for Christmas is You” infringed upon Vance’s 1988 jingle of the same name. Judge Mónica Ramírez Almadani determined that the two songs are legally distinct, citing expert analysis that highlighted their differences. The ruling, issued on Wednesday, emphasizes the importance of proving substantial similarity in copyright cases.
Details of the Lawsuit
– **Claim**: Vance alleged that Carey’s hit is a “derivative” of his band’s Christmas single.
– **Monetary Demand**: The original lawsuit sought $20 million in damages.
– **Judicial Findings**: Judge Almadani noted that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate that the works were substantially similar based on the extrinsic test for copyright infringement.
Judge’s Critique of Plaintiffs
– The judge criticized Vince Vance, whose real name is Andy Stone, and co-writer Troy Powers, calling their legal action “egregious.”
– They were ordered to repay Carey’s legal fees due to the unnecessary delay and escalation of litigation costs.
Background of the Dispute
– **Prior Lawsuit**: Vance previously filed a lawsuit against Carey in June 2022 but withdrew the complaint later.
– **Connection to Earlier Work**: Vance’s claims are based on the extensive airplay of his 1988 jingle and its performance at the White House in 1994, shortly before Carey’s song was released.
– **Carey’s Anthem**: “All I Want for Christmas is You” emerged as a holiday classic, topping the Billboard Hot 100 charts for 17 weeks in 2024 and solidifying Carey’s status as the “Queen of Christmas.”
Conclusion: This ruling marks a critical juncture in the ongoing debate over copyright and music originality. Mariah Carey’s iconic holiday anthem continues to resonate with audiences worldwide, further establishing its place in pop culture history.
Keywords: Mariah Carey, Vince Vance, copyright lawsuit, Christmas song, all I want for Christmas is you, music copyright, federal judge ruling, holiday music.
Hashtags: #MariahCarey #VinceVance #Copyright #ChristmasMusic #Lawsuit #MusicNews
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