Mariah Carey sued for copyright over iconic Christmas hit
4 June 2022, 08:07 | Updated: 4 June 2022, 10:35
Mariah Carey is being sued for 20 million dollars (£16 million) for copyright infringement over her hit song All I Want For Christmas Is You.
Listen to this article
Loading audio...
The singer and her co-writer Walter Afansieff are both named in the lawsuit, which is being brought by songwriter Andy Stone.
The song was released by Carey in 1994 as part of her album Merry Christmas and has gone on to be recognised as one of the most well-known festive hits.
In legal documents filed at the US District Court in the Eastern District of Louisiana, Mr Stone says he co-wrote another song with the same name, but with a different melody and lyrics, five years before.
Read more: Emeli Sande's rapper ex-boyfriend stabbed to death at London party
Read more: Brits face Jubilee washout as Met Office issues thunderstorm warning with heavy rain
The documents, obtained by the PA news agency, state that Carey and her collaborators "knowingly, willfully, and intentionally engaged in a campaign" to infringe Stone's copyright.
They added the defendants had also committed "acts of unjust enrichment by the unauthorised appropriation of plaintiff's work and the goodwill associated therewith".
Stone, who performs as Vince Vance with the country-pop band Vince Vance & the Valiants, said the defendants illegally exploited his "popularity and unique style" and caused confusion by recording the newer song without his permission.
Stone is seeking damages of 20 million dollars (£16 million).
Merry Christmas was released by Columbia Records on November 1 1994.
It became the best-selling US Christmas album of all time, selling more than 15 million copies worldwide.
