A federal judge in Los Angeles sided with Mariah Carey in a lawsuit alleging she illegally copied elements of her holiday classic " All I Want For Christmas Is You " from a song of the same name that released three years prior. Louisiana songwriter Andy Stone , who professionally goes by Vince Vance, and Tennessee native Troy Powers claim they wrote their "All I Want For Christmas Is You" in 1988 and released in 1989. Carey released her megahit just ahead of the 1994 holiday season, which has since received routine mass popularity every year.
On Nov. 1, 2023, the pair filed a $20 million lawsuit against the pop star, co-writer Walter Afanasieff and label Sony Music Entertainment. The suit alleged Carey's song copied melodies, lyrics and other musical elements including the song's "extended comparison between a loved one and trappings of seasonal luxury.
" However, U.S. District Judge Monica Almadani ruled Wednesday that music experts could not prove enough objective similarity between the two songs through what's called an extrinsic test.
Almadani granted Carey’s request for summary judgment without the need to go to trial agreeing with the defense's claims that the 1994 song uses common tropes associated with Christmas songs that existed prior to 1989. USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Carey, Afanasieff and Sony Music for comment on the ruling. Attorney representing lawsuit call ruling disappointing Stone and Power's attorney Gerald Fox called the Wednesday r.