Mariah Carey, singer of “All I Want For Christmas Is You” is under investigation.
Andy Stone, a songwriter, has brought the lawsuit. He claims that he wrote the song with the same title five year prior.
A New Orleans Federal Court complaint shows that Stone, who is from Mississippi, is seeking damages of at least $20,000,000 for copyright infringement, misappropriation and other claims from Carey, her co-writer Walter Afanasieff, as well as Sony Corporation of America (and its subsidiary Sony Music Entertainment).
According to the complaint, Stone, an artist known as Vince Vance from the New Orleans country-pop group Vince Vance & the Valiants co-wrote and recorded “All I Want For Christmas Is You” in 1989. The song received “extensive radioplay” in 1993, and began to appear on the Billboard Music Charts.
Carey’s original version was released as part of her 1994 album “Merry Christmas”. This song has been played on radio and streaming services for years, especially during Christmas season. It is now considered the definitive Christmas anthem.
It has topped the Billboard Hot 100 charts every year since 2019, even though it was recorded 25 years earlier. Carey’s 19th No. 1 single was “All I Want For Christmas Is You”. One song less than The Beatles.
Both songs have the same title but different lyrics and melodies.
Carey and the other defendants argued that Stone’s song was not “copyrightable subject material” prior to Carey’s 1994 release.
Stone’s attorneys did not respond to inquiries for comment immediately.
