In a decisive ruling by US Judge Katherine Polk Failla, Dua Lipa beat allegations of plagiarism concerning her popular track "Levitating." The lawsuit filed in 2022 by songwriters L Russell Brown and Sandy Linzer claimed the singer's song replicated elements from their 1979 disco tune "Wiggle and Giggle All Night" and Don Diablo from 1980.
Dua Lipa Triumphs in Latest Levitating Plagiarism Lawsuit
Dua Lipa Triumphs in Latest Levitating Plagiarism Lawsuit
Dua Lipa has successfully dismissed another lawsuit claiming she copied her hit "Levitating," winning a significant legal victory.
On Thursday, Judge Failla reasoned that the songs shared only generic characteristics and highlighted that similar musical elements could be found in works of classical composers, including Mozart, and other iconic artists like Gilbert and Sullivan and the Bee Gees in their famous track "Stayin' Alive."
This marks Lipa's second victory in a plagiarism-related case surrounding "Levitating," which soared to global fame in 2020. Previously, she faced a claim from the Florida reggae band Artikal Sound System, which asserted that her chorus echoed their 2015 song "Live Your Life." That lawsuit was dropped in 2023 due to a lack of evidence that Lipa and her collaborators had access to the original track, a crucial point in copyright law.
However, Lipa's legal battles are not over yet. She is currently facing a third challenge from musician Bosko Kante, who contributed vocals through a talk box on "Levitating." Kante's lawsuit, filed in 2023, claims his input was used without authorization in various remixes, demanding damages of at least $2 million plus interest and an estimated $20 million from the remixes.
Brown and Linzer's lawsuit specifically pointed to the opening melody of "Levitating," describing it as a "duplicate" of their melodies. Yet, in her judgment, Judge Failla countered that these phrases were too commonplace to be eligible for copyright protection. She stated that to rule otherwise would stifle future development in pop and dance music genres.
Coincidentally, the verdict was announced on the fifth anniversary of "Levitating," which was initially released as a part of Lipa's acclaimed album "Future Nostalgia." In response to the ruling, Brown and Linzer’s legal team mentioned their intention to appeal, expressing their disagreement with the court's findings. The BBC has since reached out to Dua Lipa for her comments regarding this development.
This marks Lipa's second victory in a plagiarism-related case surrounding "Levitating," which soared to global fame in 2020. Previously, she faced a claim from the Florida reggae band Artikal Sound System, which asserted that her chorus echoed their 2015 song "Live Your Life." That lawsuit was dropped in 2023 due to a lack of evidence that Lipa and her collaborators had access to the original track, a crucial point in copyright law.
However, Lipa's legal battles are not over yet. She is currently facing a third challenge from musician Bosko Kante, who contributed vocals through a talk box on "Levitating." Kante's lawsuit, filed in 2023, claims his input was used without authorization in various remixes, demanding damages of at least $2 million plus interest and an estimated $20 million from the remixes.
Brown and Linzer's lawsuit specifically pointed to the opening melody of "Levitating," describing it as a "duplicate" of their melodies. Yet, in her judgment, Judge Failla countered that these phrases were too commonplace to be eligible for copyright protection. She stated that to rule otherwise would stifle future development in pop and dance music genres.
Coincidentally, the verdict was announced on the fifth anniversary of "Levitating," which was initially released as a part of Lipa's acclaimed album "Future Nostalgia." In response to the ruling, Brown and Linzer’s legal team mentioned their intention to appeal, expressing their disagreement with the court's findings. The BBC has since reached out to Dua Lipa for her comments regarding this development.
