Karol G and Common Music Group (UMG) are firing again at a copyright lawsuit over a observe from her chart-topping Mañana Será Bonito – together with arguing {that a} producer’s Instagram remark concerning the alleged similarities was posted “sarcastically” and wasn’t an request for forgiveness.
The case, filed earlier this year, claims that the singer (Carolina Giraldo Navarro) and her co-writers stole key parts of her 2022 music “Gatúbela” from an earlier observe referred to as “Punto G,” launched by producers Ocean Vibes (Jack Hernandez) and Alfr3d Beats (Dick Alfredo Caballero Rodriguez).
However of their first response to the case on Tuesday, Karol G and Common Music Group flatly denied the entire lawsuit’s allegations. They mentioned a musicologist report cited by the accusers, which claimed the songs had been “extraordinarily related,” was “biased” and “patently improper.”
“Defendants deny that they’ve interpolated, sampled, used, or copied plaintiffs’ work,” the Colombian star’s legal professionals write. In addition they say they’ll be capable to show that “Gatúbela” was “independently created,” which might imply they’ve proof that Karol G’s music was really created first.
Launched in February 2023, Mañana Será Bonito was a important and industrial success, profitable album of the yr on the Latin Grammy Awards and reaching No. 1 on the Billboard 200 — the primary all-Spanish language album by a lady to take action. “Gatúbela” was successful in its personal proper, reaching No. 37 on the Billboard Sizzling 100 and No. 4 on the Sizzling Latin Songs chart.
Hernandez and Rodriguez sued in March, claiming they “instantly acknowledged” the music’s similarities to “Punto G,” which they are saying was launched two months earlier: “By each technique of study, ‘Gatúbela’ is a forgery.”
In a single passage, the lawsuit cited an Instagram trade by which Alfr3d confronted considered one of Karol’s producers (DJ Maff) over the alleged similarities. In screenshots within the criticism, Maff responded by commenting “don’t inform anyone,” adopted by a laughing emoji. The accusers claimed this meant he had “shockingly admitted” to stealing their music.
However in Tuesday’s response, attorneys for Karol G and the opposite defendants mentioned the Instagram trade had been taken out of context – and {that a} joking social media submit was hardly an admission of copyright infringement.
“Defendants admit that DJ Maff promoted ‘Gatúbela’ in an Instagram submit dated August 26, 2022 and that DJ Maff sarcastically posted the remark showing within the display shot,” write Karol’s protection attorneys. “Defendants in any other case deny the allegations contained in paragraph 4 of the Grievance, together with Plaintiff’s characterization of DJ Maff’s Instagram remark.”
The case over “Gatúbela” remains to be within the earliest phases. Karol G and UMG will doubtless quickly file a movement to dismiss the case fully, after which Hernandez and Rodriguez will reply. The decide will then determine if the case can transfer ahead towards an eventual trial.
In a press release to Billboard, an lawyer for the accusers mentioned the criticism filed in March “speaks for itself” and reiterated its allegations: “On the finish of the day, we imagine that artists and producers ought to be correctly credited with and compensated for the works that they create,” mentioned Chester R. Ostrowski. “That’s all plaintiffs are searching for on this case, and so they eagerly await their day in courtroom.”