Full Breakdown
Bad Bunny’s “Bad Bunny, baby” Voice Tag Remains Subject of $40 Million Lawsuit
7/14/2026, 12:10:12 PM
Core Legal Development
On July 8, the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico reversed an earlier dismissal and ruled that Carliz de la Cruz Hernández may continue pursuing copyright and right-of-publicity claims over her 2015 “Bad Bunny, baby” voice recording used on the track “Dos Mil 16” from Bad Bunny’s 2022 album *Un Verano Sin Ti*. The decision sends the case back to the San Juan trial court for further fact-finding.
Background & Timeline
- 2015 – Hernández records the phrase at the request of Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio (stage name Bad Bunny) while the couple dated.
- 2016 – The clip appears on Bad Bunny’s song “Pa Ti.”
- May 2022 – A Bad Bunny representative offers Hernández $2,000 for retroactive use; she declines.
- 2022 – “Dos Mil 16” on *Un Verano Sin Ti* incorporates the voice note; the phrase is also played at concerts in the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot on July 28-30.
- March 2023 – Hernández files a lawsuit alleging violations of Puerto Rico’s Right of Publicity Act, Moral Rights of Authors Act, and seeking at least $40 million in damages.
- July 8 (2024) – The Supreme Court allows the claims tied to “Dos Mil 16” to proceed while affirming dismissal of the “Pa Ti” claims as time-barred.
Key Figures
- Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio – internationally known as Bad Bunny, artist and defendant.
- Carliz de la Cruz Hernández – plaintiff, former girlfriend who recorded the voice tag.
- Rimas Entertainment LLC – Bad Bunny’s record label, co-defendant.
- Associate Justice Mildred G. Pabón Charneco – author of the majority opinion.
- Associate Justice Ángel Colón Pérez – dissenting justice.
- Heidy Vaquerano – entertainment attorney (Fox Rothschild LLP) commenting on potential industry impact.
Claims, Numbers & Usage
Hernández alleges the voice note was used commercially on streaming platforms, television, radio, promotional campaigns, and live performances, leaving her “worried, anguished, intimidated, overwhelmed and anxious.” She seeks $40 million in damages. The court found the offer of $2,000 insufficient to constitute consent.
Why It Matters
The ruling could set precedent for treating short, recognizable vocal tags as protectable works under Puerto Rico’s copyright and right-of-publicity statutes. If upheld, artists may need to negotiate clear licenses or royalty arrangements for even brief recorded phrases, affecting how collaborations and early-career contributions are documented.
Official Statements & Responses
The majority held that Hernández presented “sufficient facts to eventually offer evidence” that her voice performance is an original work fixed in a tangible medium, warranting copyright analysis. The court also noted that the lower courts correctly identified commercial exploitation of the voice in “Dos Mil 16.” Bad Bunny’s camp has not issued a public comment; Rimas Entertainment’s involvement remains limited to defending the lawsuit.
Criticism & Opposition
Associate Justice Ángel Colón Pérez dissented, arguing that all claims should have been dismissed because the vocal tag is a “brief, secondary element” and does not merit privacy or image-rights protection. A separate claim against Bad Bunny’s manager, Noah Assad Byrne, was also dismissed for lack of grounds.
On-the-Ground Reports
The complaint cites playback of the phrase at three consecutive concerts in July 2022 at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot, illustrating its use beyond recorded tracks.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Lower courts had dismissed Hernández’s moral-rights claim, but the Supreme Court revived it, creating a split in procedural history. The court barred damages for the 2016 “Pa Ti” usage due to the statute of limitations, while allowing claims for later uses; the exact monetary damages that could be awarded remain unsettled.
Verbatim Quotes
- “[T]he lower courts… did not err in determining that the facts presented regarding the commercial or business exploitation of Ms. De la Cruz Hernández’s voice were sufficient to draw attention to the product in question or to inform the public about it through the media.” — Associate Justice Mildred G. Pabón Charneco
- “[T]o the extent that such a performance using her voice is fixed in a tangible medium, we recognize that copyright may arise in the recording,” — Associate Justice Mildred G. Pabón Charneco
- “Entertainment attorney Heidy Vaquerano of Fox Rothschild LLP told Newsweek that if de la Cruz Hernández prevails, her vocal tag could be treated as a protectable contribution requiring royalty payments or licensing fees each time it is used.” — Heidy Vaquerano, entertainment attorney, Fox Rothschild LLP
- “worried, anguished, intimidated, overwhelmed and anxious.” — Carliz de la Cruz Hernández, complaint
