Judge rules Mariah Carey did not steal Christmas hit from other songwriters

In the United States, a federal judge dismissed a $20 million copyright infringement lawsuit against Mariah Carey regarding her famous holiday song, "All I Want for Christmas Is You." The lawsuit was filed by songwriter Andy Stone, who claimed that Carey and her co-writer Walter Afanasieff had copied elements from his 1989 song of the same title. The complaint was initially filed in 2022 and was reignited in 2023 after a dropped case. Stone asserted that Carey’s hit had borrowed not only the title but also lyrics and compositional structure from his original work. However, expert testimonies established that the similarities were minimal and rooted in common holiday tropes. In a ruling on March 19, 2025, Judge Almadani granted Carey's request for summary judgment, effectively ruling in her favor without a full trial. Evidence presented to the court indicated that the songs did not share significant melodic similarities and that both songs utilized conventional Christmas clichés prevalent in earlier music. The judge ruled that Stone's legal team had not met the necessary burden of proof to demonstrate substantial similarity between the two tracks. Notably, the judge criticized the defendants' case as “frivolous,” asserting that the lawyers had failed to back their claims with sufficient evidence. As a result of the ruling, the court ordered Andy Stone and his legal team to pay part of Carey’s legal fees due to the lack of evidentiary support for their claims. Stone expressed disappointment but indicated that he was considering whether to appeal the decision. The case reflects ongoing challenges in the music industry regarding copyright disputes, wherein a simple title similarity can lead to extensive legal battles. Carey’s song has achieved immense success over the years, becoming a seasonal staple and a top performer on Billboard charts. It is now regarded as a megahit, resonating deeply with audiences each holiday season. This ruling underscores the nuanced nature of copyright law in the music industry and sets a precedent for similar cases moving forward, as artists continue to navigate the complexities of originality and inspiration in songwriting.