The Entire Genre Of Reggaeton Is Being Sued For Copyright Infringement... Claiming This Jamaican Duo Created The Genre! (Commentary News)

"A FEDERAL JUDGE voiced concern Friday that a sprawling copyright infringement lawsuit against reggaeton superstar Bad Bunny — and more than a hundred other artists including Karol G, Pitbull, Anitta, Drake, and Daddy Yankee — could put a chokehold on the “creativity” of an entire genre of music.

Still, U.S. District Judge Andre Birotte Jr. declined to issue an immediate ruling after hearing nearly two hours of argument over a defense motion to dismiss the high-profile case filed by lawyers for the Jamaican group Steely & Clevie.

The massive case, which consolidates more than 50 related lawsuits filed over the last two years, alleges Steely & Clevie’s 1989 hit “Fish Market” originated the distinctive dembow rhythm that’s become a signature of reggaeton music. The duo claims “Fish Market” has been copied or sampled in some 1,800 songs from more than 160 defendants without credit or compensation.

“What’s the end game? Does this lawsuit run the risk of arguably stifling creativity?… Look at the ripple effect this style has had on reggae, reggaeton, Latin music, Hip-Hop, you name it. Does this stifle the creativity of all of those genres?” Judge Birotte, who said he worked as a party DJ in college, asked the parties in a Los Angeles courtroom Friday.

“Maybe we do need a reckoning,” Scott Burroughs, the lead lawyer for Cleveland “Clevie” Browne and heirs to the estate of Wycliffe “Steely” Johnson, responded. He claimed many of the defendants had no problem clearing samples from other artists included on their songs, so why should his clients be “left out in the cold.”

Bad Bunny’s lead lawyer Kenneth D. Freundlich denied the allegation his client infringed on Steely & Clevie’s work in the more than three dozen Bad Bunny songs named in the lawsuit. (The list includes “Tití Me Preguntó,” “Un Ratito” and “Una Vez.”)

He said there are no straight samples of Steely & Clevie sound recordings in any of his client’s work"- Rollingstone |