Judge Rules Mariah Carey Did Not Infringe Copyright on Christmas Song

A federal judge in Los Angeles ruled that Mariah Carey’s famous holiday song, ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You,’ did not infringe on the copyright of an earlier song with the same title. The lawsuit, filed by songwriters Andy Stone (also known as Vince Vance) and Troy Powers, sought $20 million in damages, alleging that Carey’s song copied unique elements of their 1988 composition. However, Judge Mónica Ramírez Almadani dismissed the case, stating that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate substantial similarities between the two songs.

The court found that while both songs share common holiday themes, their music and lyrics are fundamentally different. Expert testimony confirmed that the chord progressions and harmonic structures of the songs are distinct. The judge also noted that generic Christmas-related phrases, such as ‘mistletoe’ and ‘Santa Claus,’ are not protectable by copyright. Additionally, the plaintiffs were ordered to cover part of the legal fees incurred by Carey and her co-writer, Walter Afanasieff.

Carey’s version of ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ has remained a holiday staple, spending 65 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 since its release in 1994. The ruling reinforces the idea that common holiday motifs in music are not exclusive to any single songwriter.