Bad Bunny scores major win in copyright suit, judge reverses previous ruling

Bad Bunny and several other artists scored a major win in a copyright lawsuit against them, with a federal judge reversing a previous decision that allowed the case to proceed toward trial.

U.S. District Judge André Birotte Jr. determined that Cleveland “Clevie” Browne and the heirs of Wycliffe “Steely” Johnson's claims over the use of the dembow rhythm from their '90s hit "Fish Market" did not meet the legal standards required to proceed, according to a Sept. 1 ruling obtained by USA TODAY.

Steely and Clevie filed the lawsuit in 2021, accusing more than 150 artists – including Bad Bunny, Karol G, Daddy Yankee, J Balvin, Drake and Luis Fonsi – of sampling copyrighted recordings and compositions in over 1,800 reggaeton songs.

USA TODAY has reached out to lawyers for Bad Bunny and Steely and Clevie for comment.

Last month, attorneys for Bad Bunny and additional defendants asked Birotte to reconsider his July decision that the case should be heard before a jury, arguing Steely and Clevie were basing their copyright infringement claims on a combination of musical elements from three different songs.

The "Tití Me Preguntó" singer's lawyer, Kenneth Freundlich, further said the two-measure pattern Bad Bunny is accused…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/entertainment/