Dua Lipa, the Grammy-winning pop sensation, has emerged victorious in a plagiarism lawsuit concerning her hit single "Levitating." The song, released in 2020, has been a chart-topping success and is noted for being the longest-charting song by a female artist on the Billboard Hot 100. Lipa faced allegations from songwriters L. Russell Brown and Sandy Linzer, who claimed that her track borrowed elements from their 1979 disco song "Wiggle and Giggle All Night" and the 1980 track "Don Diablo." On March 27, 2025, U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla dismissed the lawsuit, marking Lipa's second win against copyright claims regarding "Levitating."
The lawsuit brought by Brown and Linzer accused Lipa of infringing their copyright by incorporating their "signature melody" into her song. They argued that Lipa's track contained similarities that amounted to a direct copy of their work. However, Judge Failla ruled that the similarities were too generic to warrant copyright protection. In her decision, she stated, "The Court finds that a musical style, defined by Plaintiffs as 'pop with a disco feel,' and a musical function, defined by Plaintiffs to include 'entertainment and dancing,' cannot possibly be protectable — alone or in tandem — because … [that would] completely foreclose the further development of music in that genre or for that purpose."
This ruling is significant, not only for Lipa but also for the music industry as a whole, as it highlights the ongoing debate around copyright laws and their application to musical compositions. The judge pointed out that the elements of music in question had been utilized in various forms throughout history, including by renowned composers like Mozart and Gilbert and Sullivan. This historical context helped bolster Lipa's defense, demonstrating that the "patter style" of singing and the musical elements cited by the plaintiffs were not unique to their works.
Interestingly, this is not the first time Lipa has faced legal challenges regarding "Levitating." In 2022, she was sued by the Florida reggae band Artikal Sound System, who alleged that Lipa had plagiarized their 2015 song "Live Your Life." That case was dismissed in 2023, with the court ruling that there was insufficient evidence to prove that Lipa and her co-writers had access to the earlier song, a crucial requirement in copyright disputes.
Despite these victories, Lipa is not entirely free from legal scrutiny. She is currently facing a third lawsuit from musician Bosko Kante, who claims that his contributions to "Levitating" were used without permission in remixes of the song. Kante, who provided vocals through a talk box for the track, is seeking damages of at least $2 million, along with profits from the remixes, which he estimates could exceed $20 million. This ongoing legal battle underscores the complexities of copyright in the music industry, particularly as it relates to collaborations and remixes.
In light of the recent ruling, Brown and Linzer's attorney, Jason Brown, expressed intentions to appeal the decision. He argued that recent case law has shifted the focus of courts toward an academic analysis of music, which he believes disconnects the legal process from the actual experience of music. He stated, "There’s a growing disconnect between how these cases are decided — by academically analyzing briefs, bar lines, and musical notation — versus how audiences actually experience music. The soul of a song doesn’t live in a court brief. It lives in the sound, the feel, and the performance — and that’s what juries should be allowed to hear and judge."
Lipa's song "Levitating" has not only been a commercial success but has also received critical acclaim, appearing on her second album, "Future Nostalgia." The album has been pivotal in establishing her as a leading figure in contemporary pop music. As she continues her 55-date "Radical Optimism" tour, with the final performance of the Australian leg scheduled for March 29, 2025, Lipa's legal victories may allow her to focus more on her music and less on courtroom battles.
The ruling also coincides with the fifth anniversary of "Levitating's" release, an ironic twist that adds a layer of significance to the court's decision. As the music industry grapples with the implications of copyright laws on artistic expression, Lipa's case serves as a notable example of the challenges artists face in navigating these legal waters.
In conclusion, Dua Lipa's victory in the plagiarism lawsuit not only reinforces her position in the music industry but also highlights the ongoing tensions between copyright law and artistic creativity. As the landscape of music continues to evolve, the outcomes of such cases will undoubtedly shape the future of how music is created, shared, and protected.
