In a significant legal victory, Dua Lipa has been cleared of accusations related to copyright infringement over her popular song "Levitating."
Dua Lipa Triumphs in Levitating Copyright Lawsuit
Dua Lipa Triumphs in Levitating Copyright Lawsuit
Dua Lipa has successfully dismissed a copyright lawsuit regarding her hit song "Levitating," which alleged similarities to older tracks.
Dua Lipa has won a major copyright lawsuit regarding her smash hit "Levitating," marking a crucial moment for the artist amidst ongoing legal challenges.
The pop sensation was sued in 2022 by songwriters L. Russell Brown and Sandy Linzer, who claimed that "Levitating" borrowed elements from their 1979 disco track "Wiggle and Giggle All Night" and the 1980 song "Don Diablo." On Thursday, U.S. Judge Katherine Polk Failla ruled in favor of Lipa, stating that the songs shared only generic similarities and cited non-copyrightable aspects that had been utilized by other artists throughout history, including classics by Mozart and the Bee Gees’ "Stayin' Alive."
This ruling represents a second victory for Lipa in similar litigation regarding "Levitating." Previously, she faced a lawsuit from the Florida reggae band Artikal Sound System, who alleged she copied their 2015 song "Live Your Life." That case was dismissed after the court determined that there was no evidence showing that Lipa and her collaborators had access to the earlier song—an essential part of proving a copyright lawsuit. However, Lipa remains in the midst of a new legal predicament over "Levitating," involving Bosko Kante, a featured artist on the track. Kante claims that his contribution was used without permission in several remixes of the song, seeking damages of at least $2 million in addition to a share of the profits, which he estimates to be around $20 million.
The original lawsuit from Brown and Linzer contested that the melody and phrasing in Lipa's lyrics, notably in the line "If you wanna run away with me," were too similar to their works. Judge Failla countered that such musical elements fall within common practices and cannot be legally protected. The court affirmed that describing a musical genre as "pop with a disco feel" and its function for "entertainment and dancing" does not provide grounds for copyright protection. Coincidentally, the ruling arrived on the fifth anniversary of "Levitating's" debut, initially appearing on Lipa's acclaimed album "Future Nostalgia." Following the ruling, the plaintiff's attorneys conveyed their intent to appeal and expressed their disagreement with the decision. The BBC has reached out to Dua Lipa for her comments on this recent development.
The pop sensation was sued in 2022 by songwriters L. Russell Brown and Sandy Linzer, who claimed that "Levitating" borrowed elements from their 1979 disco track "Wiggle and Giggle All Night" and the 1980 song "Don Diablo." On Thursday, U.S. Judge Katherine Polk Failla ruled in favor of Lipa, stating that the songs shared only generic similarities and cited non-copyrightable aspects that had been utilized by other artists throughout history, including classics by Mozart and the Bee Gees’ "Stayin' Alive."
This ruling represents a second victory for Lipa in similar litigation regarding "Levitating." Previously, she faced a lawsuit from the Florida reggae band Artikal Sound System, who alleged she copied their 2015 song "Live Your Life." That case was dismissed after the court determined that there was no evidence showing that Lipa and her collaborators had access to the earlier song—an essential part of proving a copyright lawsuit. However, Lipa remains in the midst of a new legal predicament over "Levitating," involving Bosko Kante, a featured artist on the track. Kante claims that his contribution was used without permission in several remixes of the song, seeking damages of at least $2 million in addition to a share of the profits, which he estimates to be around $20 million.
The original lawsuit from Brown and Linzer contested that the melody and phrasing in Lipa's lyrics, notably in the line "If you wanna run away with me," were too similar to their works. Judge Failla countered that such musical elements fall within common practices and cannot be legally protected. The court affirmed that describing a musical genre as "pop with a disco feel" and its function for "entertainment and dancing" does not provide grounds for copyright protection. Coincidentally, the ruling arrived on the fifth anniversary of "Levitating's" debut, initially appearing on Lipa's acclaimed album "Future Nostalgia." Following the ruling, the plaintiff's attorneys conveyed their intent to appeal and expressed their disagreement with the decision. The BBC has reached out to Dua Lipa for her comments on this recent development.
