3 Count: Christmas Blues

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1: Miley Cyrus Must Face Lawsuit Over Claims She Copied Bruno Mars Hit

First off, today, Blake Brittain at Reuters reports that musician Miley Cyrus has lost an early bid to dismiss a lawsuit filed against her over her hit song Flowers.

Tempo Music filed the lawsuit in September. They allege Cyrus infringed on the Bruno Mars song When I Was Your Man when making Flowers. Tempo claims to have acquired their share of When I Was Your Man from co-writer Philip Lawrence.

However, Cyrus attempted to argue that Tempo did not have standing to sue. However, the judge ruled that Tempo is a co-owner of the song and, as such, has the right and ability to sue. Bruno Mars is not involved in the lawsuit.

2: Limp Bizkit’s $200 Million Lawsuit: Copyright Claims Against Universal Music Group Can Move Ahead in Federal Court

Next up today, Thania Garcia at Variety reports that another court is allowing Limp Bizkit to move ahead with its lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG), even though it will have to refile the majority of its claims in state court.

The band filed the lawsuit alleging that UMG had withheld as much as $200 million in royalties from them. The claims included breach of contract, fraudulent concealment, fraudulent business practices and copyright infringement.

UMG sought to dismiss the case, but the judge denied that motion. Instead, the judge is asking for the non-copyright claims to be refiled in state court but is allowing the copyright infringement claim to move forward in federal court.

3: Mariah Carey Wins Ruling Dismissing Copyright Lawsuit Over ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’

Finally today, Bill Donahue at Billboard reports that Mariah Carey has defeated a copyright lawsuit that targeted her holiday classic All I Want for Christmas is You.

Vince Vance, a New Orleans-area musician, filed the lawsuit alleging that Carey’s version of the song infringed his 1989 song of the same name. However, experts say the two songs have little in common other than Christmas themes and the title.

As such, the judge tossed the case and said that Vance and his lawyers should be punished for filing frivolous arguments and other “egregious” conduct.

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