Mariah Carey sued $20 million over 1994

Published on 06/04/2022 14:38

(credit: Angela Weiss)

Singer Mariah Carey has been sued in the United States for alleged copyright infringement with her 1994 song “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” according to court documents.

The plaintiff, a musician named Andy Stone, claims to be the co-author and to have recorded a celebratory song of the same name in 1989 and never authorized its use.

In the lawsuit filed Friday in Louisiana, Stone alleges that Carrie and her collaborator Walter Afanasyev “knowingly, intentionally and intentionally participated in a campaign to infringe” her copyrights.

The plaintiff is seeking damages of $20 million for the alleged financial losses.

Carrie’s song is one of the most successful singles of all time, topping the charts in more than 20 countries, especially around Christmas parties.

The song featured prominently in the 2003 romantic comedy “Simply Love”.

The song has sold an estimated 16 million copies worldwide and earned Carrie $60 million in revenue over the past three decades.

Stone’s theme, released with his band Vince Vance and Valiant, was somewhat successful on Billboard’s country music charts.

Despite the identical titles, the two songs have different melodies and lyrics.

However, Stone accuses Curry and Afanasyev of trying to “exploit the popularity and unique style” of their song, causing “confusion”.

It’s unclear why Stone filed a lawsuit nearly 30 years after Carey released her song.

The court document states that Stone’s lawyers first contacted Kari and Afanasyev last year, but that the parties “failed to reach any agreement.”

Carey’s press office did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment.

It is not uncommon for songs to have the same title. There are about 177 works called “All I Want For Christmas Is You” registered with the United States Copyright Office.