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5 clusters · 18 sources · 61 days · First seen · Last updated

Reggaeton dembow rhythm copyright case

Overview

In early July 2026, U.S. District Judge André Birotte Jr. ruled that the dispute over the iconic dembow rhythm – the backbone of reggaeton – must be decided by a jury rather than through summary judgment. The lawsuit, filed by Jamaican producers Steely & Clevie, alleges that their 1989 instrumental “Fish Market” was copied in thousands of recordings by artists such as Bad Bunny, Karol G, Drake, Justin Bieber, and others.

Judge Birotte Jr. emphasized the factual complexity of the case, noting conflicting expert opinions on whether the rhythm is an original arrangement or derived from older forms like the habanera. The litigation potentially involves between 1,800 and 18,000 songs, and a victory for the plaintiffs could result in damages worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Following the ruling, Bad Bunny’s legal team filed a motion for the judge to reconsider, arguing that the contested “Fish Market Elements” do not exist as a single, protectable entity in any one work. The defense characterized the elements as a “pastiche” or a “Frankenstein” beat stitched together from disconnected excerpts.

In a significant development on September 1, 2026, Judge Birotte Jr. issued a reversal, striking down a substantial portion of the lawsuit. The judge ruled that the plaintiffs failed to identify a single, protectable copyrighted work encompassing the selection and arrangement of the rhythm. While this eliminates claims regarding the compositional elements of the rhythm, the court maintained that litigation may continue regarding specific claims of direct sampling from the original Steely & Clevie recordings.

Entities

Bad Bunny · Drake · Karol G

Timeline

  1. 10 days ago

    [CULTURE] 8 sources
    Bad Bunny wins key ruling in reggaeton copyright lawsuit

    A federal judge overturned a previous ruling to strike down major parts of a massive copyright lawsuit over the dembow rhythm, benefiting Bad Bunny and hundreds of other reggaeton artists.

  2. 28 days ago

    [CULTURE] 2 sources
    Bad Bunny legal team challenges reggaeton copyright ruling

    Bad Bunny and other artists are challenging a US court ruling that could trigger a massive copyright trial over the dembow rhythm, claiming the disputed musical elements are a ‘pastiche’ of various recordings.

  3. about 2 months ago

    [CULTURE] 3 sources
    Bad Bunny's Copyright Suit Over Dem Bow Rhythm Gets Drake Support

    Bad Bunny's copyright lawsuit over the dembow rhythm used in reggaetón, sued by Steely & Clevie, has gained Drake’s support; the artists seek to overturn a jury‑trial ruling, with broader implications for music

  4. 2 months ago

    [CULTURE] 3 sources
    U.S. Judge Sends Landmark Reggaeton Dembow Rhythm Copyright Case to Jury

    U.S. Judge André Birotte Jr. sent a high‑profile reggaeton copyright lawsuit over the dembow rhythm to a jury, involving claims by Steely & Clevie against over 150 artists like Bad Bunny and Drake.

  5. 2 months ago

    [CULTURE] 4 sources
    US Jury to Decide Copyright Claim Over Reggaeton's Dembow Rhythm

    A U.S. judge sent a copyright suit over reggaeton’s “dembow” rhythm, claimed by Steely & Clevie and involving Bad Bunny, Karol G and others, to a jury that could award hundreds of millions.

Sources

billboard.com · ca.sports.yahoo.com · catchfence.com · finde.latercera.com · glamrap.pl · hotnewhiphop.com · ibtimes.co.uk · indies.es · music.mxdwn.com · noteverticali.it · noticiasmagazine.pt · nyfights.com · theboxhouston.com · tvmax-9.com · worldmusicviews.com · yve-style.com · zhiphopcleveland.com · zimbalam.fr

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history