Not since being stolen by the Grinch has the spirit of Christmas as we know it been under such immense threat: angel tree-topper personified Mariah Carey is being sued for copyright infringement over her definitive festive banger "All I Want for Christmas Is You."
Songwriter Andy Stone, known artistically as Vince Vance of country pop band Vince Vance & the Valiants, filed the lawsuit in New Orleans federal court on Friday (June 3) [via NBC News].
Despite the satisfying alliteration in his artist name, Stone is not satisfied: he's embracing valiancy and alleging that he co-wrote a song of the same title five years prior to the release of Carey's holiday classic in 1994, as part of her Merry Christmas album. (It should be noted that song titles are generally considered public domain and don't fall within the protection of copyright law.)
He's seeking at least $20 million USD in damages — from the queen of Christmas herself, as well as her co-writer Walter Afanasieff and Sony Music — for copyright infringement and misappropriation, alongside additional claims.
According to the complaint, Stone's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" was released in 1989 but received "extensive airplay" during the holiday season of 1993 and "began making appearances on the Billboard Music Charts." The lawsuit alleges that Carey and co. "never sought or obtained permission" from him and co-writer Troy Powers to use, reproduce or distribute the song, which the document argues was "copyrightable subject matter."
Again, song titles aren't copyrightable — but the subject matter of only wanting you for Christmas is, apparently.
You can listen to the self-proclaimed "one & only original version" of "All I Want for Christmas Is You" below.
Carey may have near-perfect pitch as a singer, but her first pitch landed among baseball's worst.
Songwriter Andy Stone, known artistically as Vince Vance of country pop band Vince Vance & the Valiants, filed the lawsuit in New Orleans federal court on Friday (June 3) [via NBC News].
Despite the satisfying alliteration in his artist name, Stone is not satisfied: he's embracing valiancy and alleging that he co-wrote a song of the same title five years prior to the release of Carey's holiday classic in 1994, as part of her Merry Christmas album. (It should be noted that song titles are generally considered public domain and don't fall within the protection of copyright law.)
He's seeking at least $20 million USD in damages — from the queen of Christmas herself, as well as her co-writer Walter Afanasieff and Sony Music — for copyright infringement and misappropriation, alongside additional claims.
According to the complaint, Stone's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" was released in 1989 but received "extensive airplay" during the holiday season of 1993 and "began making appearances on the Billboard Music Charts." The lawsuit alleges that Carey and co. "never sought or obtained permission" from him and co-writer Troy Powers to use, reproduce or distribute the song, which the document argues was "copyrightable subject matter."
Again, song titles aren't copyrightable — but the subject matter of only wanting you for Christmas is, apparently.
You can listen to the self-proclaimed "one & only original version" of "All I Want for Christmas Is You" below.
Carey may have near-perfect pitch as a singer, but her first pitch landed among baseball's worst.
