DaBaby Excluded from Copyright Lawsuit Involving Dua Lipa's 'Levitating'

DaBaby dropped from copyright lawsuit against Dua Lipa's hit song "Levitating."

In a surprising turn of events, a Manhattan federal judge has granted a request to dismiss rapper DaBaby from the copyright infringement case filed against him by L. Russell Brown and Sandy Linzer. The case alleges that DaBaby's involvement in Dua Lipa's hit song "Levitating" infringed upon their own songs from the late 1970s and early 1980s. However, the accusers have not provided an explanation for dropping the case against DaBaby, making it unclear as to why they have chosen to focus solely on Lipa and the music companies involved in the song.

It is worth noting that the dismissal of DaBaby does not indicate a dismissal of the entire case. Brown and Linzer have made it clear that their claims against Lipa and the other defendants remain intact. The reason behind the dismissal of DaBaby from the case has not been disclosed by the attorneys representing Brown and Linzer, and DaBaby's attorney has not provided any comment on the matter.

The lawsuit filed by Brown and Linzer in March 2022 was one of two copyright infringement cases filed in quick succession against "Levitating." The song, which achieved massive success and topped the Hot 100 chart for 77 weeks, was at the center of controversy due to alleged similarities in its melody with the accusers' earlier songs. Specifically, the accusers claimed that the opening melody of "Levitating," where Lipa sings "If you wanna run away with me," replicated a similar passage in their songs from decades ago.

Interestingly, the other copyright infringement case against "Levitating," filed by reggae band Artikal Sound System, was dropped last month. The band had claimed that Lipa had taken the core hook of their 2015 song "Live Your Life" for her own hit. However, a federal judge raised doubts about Artikal's ability to prove that Lipa had even heard their song, leading to the dismissal of the case.

While Brown and Linzer's case against Lipa will proceed, they may face a similar fate as Artikal Sound System. Lipa's legal team has previously argued, as they did in the Artikal case, that there is no evidence to suggest that Lipa had access to the earlier songs in question. This requirement of proving access is crucial in any copyright lawsuit. Brown and Linzer's attorneys have countered this argument by highlighting the millions of listens their songs received on various online platforms, suggesting that Lipa and her team had ample opportunity to come across their work.

As the case continues, it remains to be seen how the court will rule on the copyright infringement claims made against Lipa and the music companies involved in the creation and distribution of "Levitating." The outcome of this legal battle will have significant implications for the music industry and the protection of intellectual property rights.