From Rolling Stone · Nancy Dillon · · 1m 20s
Sam Smith Normani Copyright Lawsuit Heads to Trial
U.S. District Judge rejects Sam Smith and Normani's motion to dismiss copyright case over 'Dancing With A Stranger' hook.
In brief
U.S. District Judge rejects Sam Smith and Normani's motion to dismiss copyright case over 'Dancing With A Stranger' hook. A federal judge in Los Angeles ruled Sam Smith and Normani's 'Dancing With A Stranger' did not infringe copyright after a four-year lawsuit over song similarities. Originally reported by Rolling…
Lawsuit heads to trial
U.S. District Judge Wesley L. Hsu denied Sam Smith and Normani's motion to dismiss the copyright case over 'Dancing With A Stranger' hook.
Judge rejects dismissal bid
The judge rejected Smith and Normani's request to end the case in their favor based on evidence developed since March 2022.
Judge's reasoning
Judge Hsu stated plaintiffs have sufficiently introduced an issue of material fact regarding striking similarity and independent creation.
Case history
The lawsuit was filed four years ago, dismissed the following year, and revived on appeal after a 2022 filing.
Judge's key finding
Hsu found no well-defined standard for determining when musical similarities become 'striking' and that analyzing elements in isolation is improper.
Plaintiffs' position
Plaintiffs' lawyer Alfred J. Fluehr stated the District Court should let a jury decide musicological issues in the case.
What happens next
The case will proceed to trial after the judge ruled Smith and Normani's independent creation claims do not justify dismissal.
The one thing
A federal judge in Los Angeles ruled Sam Smith and Normani's 'Dancing With A Stranger' did not infringe copyright after a four-year lawsuit over song similarities.
