A federal judge in Los Angeles has ruled in favor of Mariah Carey and co-writer Walter Afanasieff regarding allegations that their hit song "All I Want for Christmas Is You" infringed on the copyright of a similar-titled track by songwriters Andy Stone and Troy Powers. Judge Mónica Ramírez Almadani granted a summary judgment, allowing Carey and Afanasieff to avoid a trial.
The lawsuit, filed in 2023, sought $20 million from Carey, claiming that their 1989 country song shares a unique linguistic structure and thematic elements with Carey's 1994 holiday classic. Stone, who performs as Vince Vance, and Powers argued that there was a strong likelihood that Carey had heard their song and had copied significant parts of it.
The judge's decision came after evaluating expert testimonies from both sides. Ramírez Almadani concluded that the elements cited by the plaintiffs were common Christmas clichés, noting that the plaintiffs did not successfully demonstrate substantial similarity between the two songs. Additionally, she characterized the lawsuit as frivolous, ordering the plaintiffs and their legal representation to pay part of the defendants' attorney fees.
Following the ruling, Gerard P. Fox, the attorney representing Stone and Powers, expressed disappointment and indicated that they might consider an appeal. Carey’s representatives did not provide immediate comments on the ruling.
Carey’s song has seen a resurgence in popularity, dominating the Billboard Hot 100 chart for six consecutive years. Although Carey and Afanasieff have had previous disagreements regarding the song's authorship, this legal challenge has temporarily united them in their defense.