In a recent ruling, US Judge Katherine Polk Failla found that Dua Lipa's hit single shared only generic similarities with the songs cited by the plaintiffs, emphasizing that the elements in question were too commonplace to warrant copyright protection.
Dua Lipa Triumphs Again in Copyright Lawsuit Over ‘Levitating’
Dua Lipa Triumphs Again in Copyright Lawsuit Over ‘Levitating’
Pop star Dua Lipa has successfully dismissed a lawsuit claiming she plagiarized elements of her hit single ‘Levitating,’ further solidifying her position in the ongoing legal battles surrounding the song.
Dua Lipa has emerged victorious in a legal case claiming she copied her popular song ‘Levitating’ from earlier disco tracks, underscoring the complexity of copyright law in music. The ruling by US Judge Katherine Polk Failla not only dismissed the lawsuit from songwriters L Russell Brown and Sandy Linzer, but also cited the need for musical genres to evolve without the threat of legal repercussions.
While this marks Lipa’s second win against plagiarism claims related to ‘Levitating,’ she still faces a separate lawsuit from musician Bosko Kante, who alleges that his contributions to the song were exploited without permission.
In 2022, Lipa was sued by songwriters L Russell Brown and Sandy Linzer, who accused her of copying parts of their songs, including the 1979 track ‘Wiggle and Giggle All Night’ and the 1980 song ‘Don Diablo.’ In her ruling, Judge Failla highlighted that many musical elements in question are widely used across genres, including those that can be traced back to classical composers such as Mozart.
The lawsuit dismissal coincides with the fifth anniversary of ‘Levitating’s’ original release on Lipa’s critically acclaimed album *Future Nostalgia*. Despite the ruling, Brown and Linzer have indicated they disagree with the outcome and plan to appeal. Meanwhile, Dua Lipa's legal challenges are not over yet, as she will have to navigate the ongoing lawsuit filed by Kante, seeking substantial financial damages.
While this marks Lipa’s second win against plagiarism claims related to ‘Levitating,’ she still faces a separate lawsuit from musician Bosko Kante, who alleges that his contributions to the song were exploited without permission.
In 2022, Lipa was sued by songwriters L Russell Brown and Sandy Linzer, who accused her of copying parts of their songs, including the 1979 track ‘Wiggle and Giggle All Night’ and the 1980 song ‘Don Diablo.’ In her ruling, Judge Failla highlighted that many musical elements in question are widely used across genres, including those that can be traced back to classical composers such as Mozart.
The lawsuit dismissal coincides with the fifth anniversary of ‘Levitating’s’ original release on Lipa’s critically acclaimed album *Future Nostalgia*. Despite the ruling, Brown and Linzer have indicated they disagree with the outcome and plan to appeal. Meanwhile, Dua Lipa's legal challenges are not over yet, as she will have to navigate the ongoing lawsuit filed by Kante, seeking substantial financial damages.
