A significant legal victory for Mariah Carey emerged from a Los Angeles courtroom, where a federal judge determined that she did not infringe on the copyright of the 1989 song titled “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” written by songwriters Andy Stone and Troy Powers.

Summary Judgment Granted

Judge Mónica Ramírez Almadani issued this ruling while granting Carey’s request for a summary judgment on Wednesday. This decision allowed Carey and her collaborator Walter Afanasieff to sidestep a trial altogether.

Background of the Lawsuit

The legal action, initiated by Stone and Powers in 2023, sought $20 million in damages. They alleged that Carey’s 1994 classic, which has become a staple of the holiday season, used elements from their prior composition, which had seen limited commercial success, peaking at No. 31 on Billboard’s Hot Country chart.

Legal Proceedings

In their complaint, the plaintiffs argued that both songwriters had an “overwhelming likelihood” of Carey’s familiarity with their song, pointing to its airplay during the 1993 holiday season. They asserted that the linguistic themes in both songs were strikingly similar, revolving around desiring companionship over material gifts.

After consideration of testimony from music experts representing both sides, Judge Almadani sided with the defense. She concluded that the similarities cited did not substantiate a copyright infringement claim. The judge noted that many common phrases utilized in holiday songs preceded both pieces.

Sanctions and Implications

In her ruling, Judge Almadani characterized the plaintiffs’ claims as frivolous and mandated that they, along with their legal team, must pay a portion of the defendants’ attorney fees. She emphasized that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate adequate factual evidence to support their assertions.

Following the ruling, the plaintiffs’ attorney, Gerard P. Fox, expressed his disappointment, indicating that he would evaluate whether to appeal the decision based on the findings of expert musicologists.

Mariah Carey’s Holiday Legacy

Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” continues to break records, having achieved the No. 1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 for six consecutive years and reaching over 2 billion streams on Spotify. The song’s popularity has only grown since its initial release.

Related Controversies

Carey has previously been in the headlines concerning her ambitions to trademark titles like “Queen of Christmas.” However, her attempts to secure exclusive rights to that title were recently rejected by the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.