A lawsuit filed in 2021 claims over 100 reggaeton stars have committed copyright infringement by sampling or interpolating Jamaican artists Steely & Clevie’s original reggae track ‘Fish Market’. The lawsuit targets popular artists such as Bad Bunny, Daddy Yankee, Pitbull, Anitta, Luis Fonsi, and Karol G. The plaintiffs, Steely & Clevie, claim that their track has been used almost 2,000 times since its release in 1989, alleging it effectively claims ownership of an entire genre of music. Pryor Cashman, the lawyers for 80 of the artists, is fighting to dismiss the case; however, the district judge, Andre Birotte Jr., has yet to issue an immediate ruling following a defense motion.
The reggaeton stars have been fighting back against the lawsuit, with 107 of the 150+ musicians filing motions to have the case dismissed via documents obtained by Dancehall Mag. The lawyers for Pryor Cashman won a copyright lawsuit for Ed Sheeran recently and explain on behalf of their clients that the plaintiffs are essentially claiming exclusive rights to a genre of music by asserting that they have ownership of the rhythm and other musical elements that are common to reggaeton. The size of the case has made it challenging for the lawyers to apportion allegations against the defendants, making it impossible to distinguish what is alleged infringement in the different works that are in question.
The music community is eagerly watching this lawsuit, which is a significant hurdle for the musicians and labels involved. This follows other artists who have been embroiled in copyright infringement lawsuits, including Bad Bunny. The case is not yet resolved, and the district judge will issue a ruling after considering all the evidence presented by the sides; however, it is clear that the stakes are high for all parties involved. The case highlights the necessity of ensuring that proper licensing agreements are in place when using music and is also another example of the complexities surrounding music ownership and usage in the digital age
Read the full article from Mixmag here: Read More