Mariah Carey Says ‘All I Want For Christmas’ Accuser Must Pay $1M Bill From ‘Absurd’ Lawsuit

Following the dismissal of a copyright lawsuit claiming her hit song “All I Want For Christmas Is You” infringed on an earlier track, Mariah Carey is demanding that the plaintiff, Vince Vance (Andy Stone), cover over $1 million in legal fees incurred during the defense of what she calls an “absurd” case. Stone had alleged that Carey’s song stole key elements from his 1989 song of the same name, but the judge ruled the songs only shared “commonplace Christmas song clichés.”

Carey’s lawyers argue that Stone pursued a “meritless” case in an attempt to secure a large payout, despite repeated warnings that the claims were flawed. They emphasize the similarities cited were basic Christmas tropes like “mistletoe” and “Santa Claus,” and basic musical elements. The motion requests the judge order Stone to repay $1,048,873 to Carey, Sony Music, and other involved parties.

The judge had previously ordered Stone’s attorney to pay some legal bills for unnecessary motions. Carey’s legal team contends that awarding these fees is justified under copyright law to deter frivolous lawsuits that burden the court and potentially harm the creative industry. They assert that Stone’s case should never have been brought and forced Carey and others to expend significant resources defending against it.

(Source：Billboard)