(New York) This is an unavoidable holiday hit: American singer Mariah Carey has been charged with copyright infringement. All I want for Christmas is youBy an artist claiming to be $ 20 million.
Released at 11:47 p.m.
The complainant, Andy Stone, claims to have co-wrote and recorded a song of the same name in 1989 without permission, according to a text of a complaint filed Friday in Louisiana (southern).
She is seeking $ 20 million in damages from Maria Carey, whose title was published in 1994.
Andy Stone, the singer and co-writer of the Christmas song, Walter Afanasif, has been accused of “knowingly, voluntarily and deliberately violating his copyright.”
All I want for Christmas is you One of the most streamlined topics of all time: it is number one in sales in more than 20 countries and is widely streamed every year.
The hit has sold 16 million copies and Maria Carey alone is said to have earned $ 60 million in three decades.
Andy Stone’s song, recorded with his band Vince Vance and Valiants, was a moderate hit among folk music fans.
If both songs have the same title, the music and lyrics will be different.
Nevertheless, Andy Stone criticized the singer, who, about thirty years later, created “confusion” by attempting to “use the fame and distinctive style” of his title.
The document, filed in a Louisiana court, states that plaintiff’s lawyers contacted Mariah Carey and her co – author last year, but “could not reach an agreement.”
Representatives of the singer were not immediately available for comment.
In total, about 177 songs have titles All I want for Christmas is you Registered on the United States Copyright Office website.
“Pop culture practitioner. Award-winning tv junkie. Creator. Devoted food geek. Twitter lover. Beer enthusiast.”
