Mariah Carey Wins Copyright Case Over Christmas Hit

Mariah Carey has secured a legal victory after a US federal court dismissed a copyright infringement lawsuit targeting her 1994 holiday classic, All I Want for Christmas Is You, bringing an end to a case the judge described as lacking merit.

The ruling, delivered by a federal judge in Los Angeles, ordered the plaintiffs to cover Carey’s legal expenses, amounting to approximately Sh11.9 million (about $92,000). The court concluded that the lawsuit failed to meet the legal threshold required to establish copyright infringement.

The case was filed in November 2023 by Louisiana-based songwriter Andy Stone, known professionally as Vince Vance, alongside Tennessee songwriter Troy Powers. The two alleged that Carey’s song copied elements from their track of the same title, which they said was written in 1988 and released in 1989.

Stone and Powers accused Carey, her co-writer Walter Afanasieff, and Sony Music Entertainment of copying aspects of their melody, lyrics, and overall structure. They sought $20 million in damages, arguing that both songs shared thematic comparisons between love and Christmas-related luxuries.

However, in a March 2025 decision, the court found that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate “substantial similarity” between the two works, a core requirement under US copyright law. The judge ruled that any overlapping phrases or themes reflected common Christmas expressions and general holiday ideas that are not eligible for copyright protection.

The court further noted that similar festive themes have appeared across numerous Christmas songs over several decades, reinforcing Carey’s defense.

With the lawsuit dismissed before reaching a jury trial, Carey and Afanasieff were fully cleared of the allegations. In a subsequent order, the judge directed the plaintiffs to pay Carey’s legal fees, citing the weak legal foundation of the claims.

Released more than three decades ago, All I Want for Christmas Is You remains one of the most commercially successful holiday songs in history, returning to global charts each December and generating substantial annual revenue.

As the song once again rises in seasonal streaming rankings, the ruling confirms Carey’s undisputed ownership of the modern Christmas standard.

Source: TNX Africa