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Singer Mariah Carey is being sued for her Christmas ear worm, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” by a songwriter who alleges copyright infringement of her song with the same title. which was published five years before its great 1994 hit.
Andy Stone, whose stage name is Vince Vance, part of the band Vince Vance & the Valiants, filed a lawsuit Friday against Carey, 53, in federal court in New Orleans. He is suing for at least $ 20 million in damages and alleges copyright infringement and unjust enrichment, among other claims.
Carey bears the name of the costume along with her co-writer Walter Afanasieff and music company Sony.
Court documents describe Vance as a freelance artist who in 1989 co-wrote a song entitled “All I Want for Christmas is You” and recorded it in a Nashville studio. It was later released and “received a wide broadcast during the 1993 Christmas season … began appearing on Billboard music charts.”
Carey’s song with the same name, but not the same lyrics and music, was released in 1994 on his album “Merry Christmas”. The lawsuit alleges that Carey and the other defendants “never asked for or obtained permission” from Vance to use, reproduce or distribute the song and accuses them of infringing their copyright.
Here’s a look at one of the most prominent copyright cases of the last decade, and how experts differentiate between infringement and inspiration. (Video: Daron Taylor, Sarah Hashemi / The Washington Post)
Carey has not yet publicly commented on the lawsuit. Sony Music did not immediately respond to a request for comment early Saturday morning.
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Carey’s song has become a Christmas classic and a staple of holiday listings every year, so it’s not clear why the lawsuit has only been filed.
In general, copyright is not limited to song titles, with dozens of entries registered for “All I Want for Christmas is You” at the U.S. Copyright Office as of Saturday .
Court documents say Vance’s lawyers initially contacted Carey and others in April 2021 and followed up with a letter in December. “Even after communicating the concerns to the defendants, the plaintiff was unable to reach any agreement on the use of ‘All I Want for Christmas is You,'” the lawsuit said.
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Carey, known for her musical hits such as “Fantasy” and “Hero,” was inducted into the Composers Hall of Fame this year, which named her part of “a group of elite authors.” he said he had “written or collaborated.” – wrote 18 of his 19 number one songs on the Billboard Hot 100.
He had his first No. 1 hit in the United States with “Vision of Love” in 1990 and won 5 Grammy Awards, 3 Guinness World Records, and an Ivor Novello Award for his distinctive 5-octave style. his worldwide stardom for his musical performances.
Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is still very popular, playing over a billion times on the Spotify music service, and for some it’s an unofficial announcement of the start of the Christmas season. But others say it has become exaggerated and irritating, with a Texas bar last year banning the song from playing before Dec. 1 and then allowing it to be played only “once a night.” .