Mariah Carey is sued over ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’

June 3 (Reuters) – Mariah Carey was sued on Friday over her 1994 Christmas basic “All I Need for Christmas Is You” by a songwriter who stated he co-wrote a music with the identical title 5 years earlier.

In a criticism filed in New Orleans federal courtroom, Andy Stone is in search of a minimum of $20 million in damages from Carey, her co-writer and Sony Music Leisure for copyright infringement and misappropriation, amongst different claims.

Stone, who performs as Vince Vance with the country-pop band Vince Vance & the Valiants, accused the defendants of getting illegally exploited his “reputation and distinctive type” and induced confusion by recording the newer music with out his permission.

Carey’s and Stone’s songs have totally different lyrics and melodies.

Spokespeople for Carey and Sony Music didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.

Carey’s music appeared on her album “Merry Christmas,” and has lengthy acquired widespread play on radio and in retail purchasing environments throughout the vacation season.

It has additionally topped the Billboard Scorching 100 chart yearly since 2019, regardless of having been recorded 1 / 4 century earlier. “All I Need for Christmas Is You” was Carey’s nineteenth No. 1 music, one fewer than the Beatles.

Stone stated his personal music had acquired “in depth airplay” throughout the 1993 Christmas season, and in addition appeared on Billboard charts.

It wasn’t clear from the criticism when Stone first discovered about Carey’s music.

The criticism stated Stone’s legal professionals first contacted the defendants in April 2021 about their alleged unauthorized use, however had been “unable to come back to any settlement.”

Stone’s legal professionals didn’t instantly reply to requests for added remark.

The case is Stone v Carey et al, U.S. District Court docket, Japanese District of Louisiana, No. 22-01616.

Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Enhancing by Cynthia Osterman

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