In a copyright case, Dua Lipa successfully defends “Levitating.” Find out what the plaintiffs intend to appeal and the judge’s decision.
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For Dua Lipa, big news?
The pop star appears to have won a recent court case.
A Manhattan judge has dismissed a copyright infringement lawsuit that had been looming over her hit song “Levitating.”
Who filed the lawsuit?
Songwriters Sandy Linzer and L. Russell Brown filed the lawsuit.
They asserted that “Levitating” was too similar to both their 1979 song “Wiggle and Giggle All Night” and the 1980 Miguel Bosé song “Don Diablo.”
What did the judge decide?
In the end, Dua Lipa won her case before U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla.
According to the judge, there was insufficient “substantial similarity” between “Levitating” and “Wiggle and Giggle All Night” to support a finding of copyright infringement.
Have any intriguing parallels been drawn?
It’s interesting that the judge brought up the well-known Ed Sheeran and Marvin Gaye case.
Additionally, the ruling noted that “Levitating” was similar to music by a wide variety of artists, including the famous disco group the Bee Gees, particularly their hit song “Stayin’ Alive,” and classical composers like Mozart and Rossini.
What was the main justification for the dismissal?
The judge’s conclusion that a broad musical genre, such as “pop with a disco feel,” and the general goal of “entertainment and dancing,” cannot be protected by copyright was a key component.
The judge reasoned that granting such protection would hinder the advancement of music in those genres in the future.
What was the response of the losing side?
The attorney for Brown and Linzer stated that they strongly disagree with the court’s ruling, but Dua Lipa’s team has not yet issued an official statement.
They emphasized their belief in the timeless value of original songwriting when they announced their plan to appeal the decision.3.
What justifies their appeal?
Instead of taking into account the overall sound and feeling of the music as experienced by listeners, the plaintiffs’ attorney contended that the court’s analysis placed an undue emphasis on breaking down the musical elements on paper.
They think a jury ought to be given the chance to hear and assess the parallels.
Has Dua Lipa previously encountered such problems?
Copyright claims against “Levitating” are not new. Dua Lipa had previously won a dismissal in another copyright infringement lawsuit involving the same song, filed by the band Artikal Sound System.
This was the second lawsuit brought by Brown and Linzer.
Quick Facts About Dua Lipa Lawsuit:
- In a copyright case, Dua Lipa prevailed for her song “Levitating.”
- Sandy Linzer and L. Russell Brown filed the lawsuit.
- There was no “substantial similarity” between “Levitating” and “Wiggle and Giggle All Night,” according to the judge.
- Similarities to music by Mozart and the Bee Gees were mentioned in the ruling.
- The plaintiffs plan to challenge the court’s ruling.