A federal judge has denied Bad Bunny’s request to recover $465,612 in legal fees after he successfully fought a copyright lawsuit involving a sample used on his 2022 album, Un Verano Sin Ti. In a ruling issued Thursday, August 20th, U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II found that Empawa Africa had brought an “objectively reasonable” case and rejected Bad Bunny’s argument that the company pursued the lawsuit with an improper motive.
U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II found that Empawa Africa had brought an “objectively reasonable” case and rejected Bad Bunny’s argument that the company pursued the lawsuit with an improper motive, as Billboard reports.
Copyright Lawsuit Details
The dispute centered on “Enséñame a Bailar,” which samples “Empty My Pocket,” a 2019 song by Nigerian artist Dera. Bad Bunny’s attorneys maintained that the sample had been properly licensed through production company Lakizo Entertainment.
The case was dismissed earlier this year after Empawa and Dera failed to meet court deadlines. Bad Bunny’s attorneys subsequently sought reimbursement for legal costs, calling the lawsuit “meritless from the beginning” and accusing Empawa of seeking an “undeserved, multimillion-dollar settlement.”
Wright disagreed, noting that Bad Bunny had used the copyrighted material and that his attorneys had not provided Empawa with documentation proving they had permission to sample it.
“The imposition of attorneys’ fees would send the wrong message to parties seeking to protect their intellectual property,” Wright wrote. Fans can look for deals and get tickets to sold-out Bad Bunny shows, where they can save $20 on their first order of $200 or more with promo code CONSEQUENCE20 at checkout.
In conclusion, the court’s decision marks the end of the copyright lawsuit involving Bad Bunny and Empawa Africa, with Bad Bunny being denied reimbursement for his legal fees. The ruling highlights the importance of properly licensing copyrighted material and the need for parties to provide documentation to support their claims. As Bad Bunny continues to produce and release new music, this case serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting intellectual property rights in the music industry.
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