Judge Set to Dismiss Copyright Lawsuit Over Mariah Carey's Christmas Classic
A federal judge is reportedly preparing to dismiss the copyright infringement lawsuit against Mariah Carey regarding her hit song "All I Want for Christmas Is You."
Mariah Carey performing on illuminated stage
Louisiana-based artist Andy Stone (professionally known as Vince Vance) filed the lawsuit claiming Carey's 1994 holiday hit infringed on his 1989 country song of the same name. The lawsuit alleges similarities in compositional structure and lyrical phrases, including the title phrase "all I want for Christmas is you."
Judge Mónica Ramírez Almadani is "inclined" to grant summary judgment in favor of Carey and dismiss the case. Additionally, the court is considering imposing sanctions against the plaintiffs for filing what defendants claim is a "frivolous" lawsuit.
The defendants argue that the plaintiff's experts failed to:
- Analyze prior art
- Distinguish between protectable and unprotectable elements of expression
- Provide sufficient evidence of infringement
If sanctions are imposed, this case could set a precedent for dealing with questionable copyright claims in the music industry, potentially deterring meritless lawsuits in the future.
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