Mariah Carey accused of plagiarism: U.S. justice rules

A rocky trial over a cult hit has just come to an end. Accused of plagiarism, Mariah Carey was exonerated, but the case speaks volumes about the battles surrounding timeless hits.

Was All I Want for Christmas Is You really copied? The verdict is in for the Queen of Christmas.

Since 1994, Mariah Carey ‘s voice has resounded every Christmas with All I Want for Christmas Is You, which has become a seasonal anthem. However, since 2022, the star has been facing a plagiarism lawsuit filed by Adam Stone, aka Vince Vance. The musician claimed that Mariah Carey had been inspired by his own song of the same name, released in 1989.

According to him, the diva had knowingly exploited “her popularity and style”, claiming $20 million in damages. A serious accusation, which brought the case before the American courts.

Mariah Carey, a clear-cut, unequivocal judgment

On March 19, Judge Mónica Ramírez Almadani definitively rejected the complaint. A musicologist commissioned by the court concluded that the two songs shared only “clichés typical of Christmas carols”.

Professor Lawrence Ferrara (NYU) even cited 19 songs similar to Stone’s, pointing out the generic nature of elements like “Santa Claus”, “mistletoe” or sentimental refrains.

Carey’s lawyers denounced the action as “baseless”, claiming that the complaint was based on amalgams and personal interpretations, with no credible musical basis.

A legal setback for the plaintiff

The court ruled that Stone had unnecessarily burdened the proceedings with unnecessary costs and delays. As a result, he will have to reimburse Mariah Carey’s legal fees.

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