Bad Bunny Seeks Legal Fees After Winning Copyright Case

Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny is pursuing $465,612 in legal fees from emPawa Africa following a successful defense against a copyright lawsuit concerning his track “Enséñame a Bailar.” The lawsuit was initiated in May 2022 by Nigerian producer Dera (Ezeani Chidera Godfrey), who claimed that Bad Bunny's song included an uncleared sample from his 2019 track “Empty My Pocket,” produced for artist Joeboy. However, the case was dismissed on March 9, 2023, after Dera failed to appear at a discovery hearing and missed critical deadlines.

Bad Bunny Pursues $466,000 Legal Fee Reimbursement Following Copyright CaseRolling StoneBillboard

The legal troubles began when Dera's legal representation withdrew from the case in January 2023, citing “irreparable differences” regarding legal strategies. Subsequently, emPawa Africa was dismissed as a plaintiff in February for also failing to meet deadlines. Bad Bunny's legal team contended that the lawsuit was “meritless from the beginning” and accused emPawa of attempting to leverage Bad Bunny's prominence to secure a substantial settlement. They asserted that the sample in question was cleared through Lakizo Entertainment, the distributor of “Empty My Pocket.”

Bad Bunny Pursues $466,000 Legal Fee Reimbursement Following Copyright CaseBillboardRolling Stone

In a motion filed on March 23, Bad Bunny's attorneys argued that emPawa Africa's actions during the litigation process were frivolous and aimed at stalling the case. They claimed that emPawa made “frivolous objections” during the discovery phase and ultimately withdrew from the case rather than provide evidence to support its claims. The motion emphasized that without the award of legal fees, emPawa would face no consequences for its actions, while Bad Bunny and his co-defendants would incur significant penalties.

Bad Bunny Pursues $466,000 Legal Fee Reimbursement Following Copyright CaseBillboardRolling Stone

Bad Bunny's legal team highlighted that the lawsuit was an attempt to undermine his integrity regarding song ownership. They noted that Dera, although a co-plaintiff, was not primarily responsible for the prosecution or financing of the lawsuit. This perspective suggests that the legal action was more about exploiting Bad Bunny's status than pursuing legitimate claims.

Bad Bunny Pursues $466,000 Legal Fee Reimbursement Following Copyright CaseBillboard

While representatives for Bad Bunny and emPawa Africa did not provide immediate comments on the fee request, the motion filed by Bad Bunny's attorneys clearly articulated their position. They stated, “This case was meritless from the beginning and should never have been brought,” underscoring their belief that emPawa's litigation tactics were unjustifiable.

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As the case progresses, Bad Bunny's legal team is awaiting a decision on their request for reimbursement of legal fees. Under U.S. law, parties victorious in copyright litigation can recover legal costs if they demonstrate that the opposing claims were frivolous or handled unreasonably. This precedent aims to deter misuse of the legal system by those filing meritless lawsuits.

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