It seems that not everything is good news and success for Bad Bunny these days. The Puerto Rican reggaeton artist is facing a lawsuit in the United States for allegedly using part of a song by Nigerian producer Dera without permission in his track "Enséñame a Bailar," included in the album Un Verano Sin Ti. The lawsuit was filed on May 2 in a federal court in Los Angeles, accusing the artist of copying key fragments from the song "Empty My Pocket," recorded in 2019.
According to the legal document, Bad Bunny's song not only allegedly borrowed a fragment but is also said to be "essentially built" on Dera's work. The producer's team claims that the usage was so extensive that there is no doubt about the infringement. They also assert that the musical basis and part of the original lyrics appear in the Puerto Rican's version.
The issue had been generating controversy since 2023, when Mr. Eazi, founder of the label emPawa Africa, to which the artist Joeboy (performer of "Empty My Pocket") belongs, publicly denounced the lack of credit and the unauthorized use of the song. They tried to resolve it outside of court, but to no avail. According to Eazi, Bad Bunny's record label, Rimas Entertainment, showed no willingness to reach an agreement.
Dera's lawyers assert that they have complied with all legal requirements, presented evidence, and offered dialogue, but the artist's team "turned a blind eye." "It's not common for an artist of Bad Bunny's caliber to ignore such a clear legal issue," said attorney Robert A. Jacobs, who specializes in music rights.
From Bad Bunny's team, they argue that they did have permission to use the sample, and that this permission was granted by Lakizo Entertainment, a former distributor of the song. But here comes another issue: the lawsuit claims that Lakizo had no legal right to authorize that use, which further exacerbates the conflict.
In addition to Bad Bunny and his record label, other companies such as The Orchard, which distributed the album, are also being accused. Meanwhile, Un Verano Sin Ti remains one of the biggest successes of the singer's career, and "Enséñame a Bailar" has accumulated millions of plays on platforms. However, now the song may end up being remembered more for the courts than for the dance floor.
To listen to the full song, click here.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Plagiarism Lawsuit Against Bad Bunny
Why did the Nigerian artist Dera sue Bad Bunny?
Dera has sued Bad Bunny for alleged plagiarism of their song "Empty My Pocket", claiming that the track "Enséñame a Bailar" by the Puerto Rican artist copies key fragments of their work and is essentially built upon it.
What are the arguments of the lawsuit against Bad Bunny?
The lawsuit alleges that Bad Bunny used the musical base and part of the lyrics from "Empty My Pocket" without permission in his song "Enséñame a Bailar." According to the Nigerian producer's team, the use was so extensive that there is no doubt about the infringement.
What does Bad Bunny's team say about the plagiarism accusation?
The Bad Bunny team argues that they had permission to use the sample, granted by Lakizo Entertainment, the former distributor of the track. However, the lawsuit claims that Lakizo did not have the legal rights to authorize that use.
What other companies are involved in the lawsuit?
In addition to Bad Bunny and his record label Rimas Entertainment, other companies like The Orchard, which distributed the album, are also being accused in the lawsuit for alleged complicity in the unauthorized use of the song.
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