Judge Dismisses Copyright Lawsuit Against Mariah Carey’s Holiday Hit

The court ruled that the songs lacked substantial similarity and ordered the plaintiffs to pay Carey's legal fees for filing a frivolous case.

A federal judge ruled that Mariah Carey's 1994 song 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' did not infringe on the copyright of a 1989 song of the same name by Andy Stone and Troy Powers.
The court found that the similarities between the songs were limited to unprotectable Christmas song clichés and did not meet the legal standard for copyright infringement.
Musicologist analysis presented in court determined that the two songs were distinctly different in melody, lyrics, and structure, with shared elements being common to many holiday tracks.
Judge Mónica Ramírez Almadani sanctioned the plaintiffs for filing a frivolous lawsuit, ordering them to pay Carey's legal expenses due to unsupported claims and unnecessary litigation costs.
The plaintiffs' attorney expressed disappointment with the ruling and indicated they may consider appealing the decision.