New Orleans artist sues Mariah Carey over ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’

(NEXSTAR) – Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Xmas Is You” is the undisputed winner when it comes to Christmas tracks, but it may possibly also pose some authorized issues for the singer.

A songwriter, who states he co-wrote a music with the exact title in 1989, is accusing her of copyright infringement.

Last week, Andy Stone filed a grievance in New Orleans federal court docket in opposition to Carey, her co-author Walter Afanasieff, and Sony Music Enjoyment.

Stone is asking for at the very least $20 million in damages for copyright infringement, misappropriation, and extra claims, Reuters stories.

In accordance to Stone – better known as Vince Vance in the band Vince Vance & the Valiants – the tune he wrote was performed “extensively” in late 1993 and appeared on Billboard charts. He has accused the defendants of illegally exploiting his design and style and creating confusion with their track.

Carey’s “All I Want for Xmas is You” has topped the Billboard charts each and every 12 months since 2019. As of 2017, the tune had reportedly netted Carey a lot more than $60 million, in accordance to BBC.

In her memoir, “The Meaning of Mariah,” the singer says she composed most of “All I Want for Christmas is You” though using a “cheap very little Casio keyboard.” With in excess of 10 million income and streaming models in the U.S., it is the initially and only holiday music to be qualified Diamond by the Recording Market Affiliation of America.

The reality that the songs share the similar title is the basis for Stone’s copyright assert, in accordance to Rolling Stone. He does not argue that they sound alike – Carey’s has diverse lyrics and melodies than Stone’s tune. As a substitute, Stone argues he has the copyright on any works with the title “All I Want for Christmas is You.”

There are other will work bearing the title “All I Want for Christmas is You,” which include a number of Television set episodes and an animated film starring Carey herself. The United States Copyright Business exhibits there are 177 works sharing the exact title. Track titles aren’t entitled to copyright security in the U.S.

Stone’s attorneys demonstrate in the lawsuit that they initially contacted Carey, Afanasieff, and Sony last spring but were being “unable to occur to any settlement.”

Neither Stone’s lawful crew nor the defendants have responded to Nexstar’s ask for for remark on the lawsuit.