US Judge Dismisses Copyright Lawsuit Against Mariah Carey’s Christmas Song

Mariah Carey has won a copyright infringement case concerning her 1994 holiday hit, ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You.’ The lawsuit was filed by songwriter Adam Stone, also known as Vince Vance, who claimed that Carey had copied his 1989 song with the same title. Stone sought at least $20 million in damages, alleging that Carey had exploited his song’s popularity and style. However, Judge Mónica Ramírez Almadani dismissed the claims, ruling that the two songs shared only generic Christmas-related themes and lacked substantial similarities. Musicologists testified that the melodies were distinct and that numerous earlier songs contained similar lyrical elements. The judge also criticized Stone’s legal team for presenting vague and unfounded arguments, ordering them to cover Carey’s legal fees. The case, originally filed in 2022, was dismissed once before but was later refiled. Despite Stone’s insistence that his song had been widely played before Carey’s version was released, the court found no evidence of direct copying. The ruling reinforces the legal precedent that general themes and phrases in holiday music are not protected by copyright.