Judge Dismisses Copyright Claim Over Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You”
A federal judge in Los Angeles has ruled that Mariah Carey’s enduring holiday anthem, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” was not plagiarized from other songwriters, resolving a music copyright dispute this week.
Lawsuit Dismissed; Plaintiffs to Cover Legal Fees
Judge Mónica Ramírez Almadani not only dismissed the copyright infringement case but also mandated that Andy Stone and Troy Powers, the two songwriters who initiated the legal action, contribute to the legal expenses incurred by Ms. Carey and her co-writer, Walter Afanasieff, who were co-defendants in the case.
Lack of Substantial Similarity
The lawsuit, which sought $20 million in damages, hinged on music experts who pointed to “similarities in isolation,” according to the judge. However, Judge Ramírez Almadani determined that these experts failed to consider the broader context of the entire song and concluded that the plaintiffs did not sufficiently demonstrate substantial similarities between the works.
Court documents indicate that Stone and Powers composed their song, also titled “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” in 1988. Their version was recorded by Vince Vance and the Valiants and released in 1989.
Chronology of Songs and Copyright Claims
Vince Vance and the Valiants’ rendition achieved success, appearing on Billboard’s Hot Country chart in 1994 and making repeated appearances throughout the 1990s.
Mariah Carey’s track, bearing the same title, debuted in late 1994 as part of her Christmas album, “Merry Christmas.”
In their lawsuit, lawyers representing Stone and Powers argued that the near simultaneity of their song’s popularity and Carey’s release strongly suggested that Carey and Afanasieff, as seasoned musicians and songwriters aware of Billboard chart significance, had access to the earlier Vance composition.
The legal filing asserted that the Vance song featured a “distinct linguistic structure” where an individual, expressing dissatisfaction with material gifts and seasonal comforts, yearns for the presence of a loved one and communicates this desire to Santa Claus.
Plaintiffs’ attorneys further contended that Carey and Afanasieff should have sought permission or licensing from Stone and Powers due to this allegedly “unique and original” thematic sequence.
Lyrical and Musical Analysis
The lawsuit highlighted the recurring lyrical phrase “All I want for Christmas is you” at the conclusion of each verse in the Vance song, noting its similar prominence in Carey’s version. It further alleged that Carey’s song appropriated over 50 percent of Vance’s original work in both lyrics and chord progressions.
Conversely, legal representatives for Carey and Afanasieff maintained that the musical and lyrical components of the two songs were entirely distinct.
They characterized the lawsuit as “absurdly relying on” shared thematic elements such as “snow, mistletoe, presents under Christmas trees, and desiring a loved one for Christmas,” present in both songs. They argued that universal themes like “the human condition and the longing for companionship at Christmastime” are not subject to copyright protection.
Expert Testimony and Judge’s Verdict
Judge Ramírez Almadani considered expert testimony from two musicologists for each side but ultimately sided with the experts who testified on behalf of Carey and Afanasieff.
According to the judge’s ruling, one expert witness identified no significant harmonic resemblances between the songs, citing “very different” chord progressions and harmonic rhythms in both compositions.
The expert also determined that the songs share only five common words: “mistletoe,” “Santa Claus/Santa,” “snow,” “stocking,” and “Christmas,” the ruling stated.
Common Holiday Vocabulary
Judge Ramírez Almadani concluded that phrases referencing the holiday season—such as “all I want for Christmas is you,” “underneath the Christmas tree,” as well as “just one thing,” and “come true”—were part of a long-established holiday lexicon predating both songs.
“All I Want for Christmas Is You”: A Holiday Staple
Over the past thirty years, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” has solidified its status as one of the most enduring and successful singles across all genres, spending 65 weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.