JAKARTA - Mariah Carey was sued over the classic Christmas song All I Want for Christmas Is You (1994) by a songwriter who said he co-wrote the song with the same title five years earlier.
In a complaint filed in New Orleans federal court, Andy Stone seeks at least $20 million in damages from Carey, his co-writers, and Sony Music Entertainment for copyright infringement and abuse, among other charges.
Stone, who played Vince Vance in the country-pop band Vince Vance & the Valiants, accused the defendants of illegally exploiting his "popularity and unique style" and creating confusion by recording new versions of the song without his permission.
Carey and Stone's songs have different lyrics and melodies. A spokesperson for Carey or Sony Music has yet to comment.
Carey's song is part of the Merry Christmas album and has long been a staple of Christmas celebrations, playing on the radio and in shopping malls during the holiday season.
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All I Want for Christmas Is You has also topped the Billboard Hot 100 every year since 2019, even though it was recorded years ago.
Quoted from Reuters, Stone said the song itself was often played in the 1993 Christmas season, and appeared on the Billboard charts. It is not known when Stone found out about Mariah Carey's version of the song.
In the lawsuit, Stone's attorneys first contacted the sued in April 2021 for alleged unauthorized use, but they didn't reach any agreement.
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