A judge has expressed her inclination to dismiss a lawsuit against Mariah Carey, claiming that her hit song “All I Want for Christmas Is You” infringes on an older song with the same name. The lawsuit was filed by songwriter Richard Busch, who alleged that Carey’s 1994 holiday classic copied elements from a song he wrote in 1993.
During a virtual hearing on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder stated that she was leaning towards dismissing the case, citing a lack of substantial similarity between the two songs. She also noted that the copyright for Busch’s song had expired, making it difficult for him to prove infringement.
In response to the lawsuit, Carey’s legal team argued that the two songs only shared a common title and that the melodies and lyrics were completely different. They also pointed out that “All I Want for Christmas Is You” has become a beloved holiday staple and has been covered by numerous artists, further proving its originality.
Judge Snyder also questioned the timing of the lawsuit, which was filed 26 years after the release of Carey’s song. She suggested that Busch may have been motivated by the success and popularity of “All I Want for Christmas Is You” and the potential financial gain from a lawsuit.
While the judge has not yet made a final ruling, her comments during the hearing indicate that she is inclined to dismiss the case. This would be a major victory for Carey, who has faced numerous legal battles throughout her career.
“All I Want for Christmas Is You” has become a beloved holiday anthem and is considered one of the best-selling singles of all time. It has also become a staple on holiday playlists and is played on radio stations every year during the Christmas season.
Carey has not publicly commented on the lawsuit, but her legal team has maintained her innocence and defended the originality of her song. With the judge’s inclination to dismiss the case, it seems that Carey will be able to continue spreading holiday cheer with her iconic hit without any legal repercussions.
