In a historic ruling for Latin music, Federal Judge André Birotte Jr. dismissed most of a lawsuit that threatened to rewrite the rules of reggaeton. The decision, announced on September 1, 2026, puts an end to litigation involving more than 150 artists and nearly 2,000 songs.
The Origin of the Conflict
The Jamaican reggae duo Steely & Clevie (Cleveland "Clevie" Browne and the heirs of Wycliffe "Steely" Johnson) sued the most important artists of the urban genre, including Bad Bunny, Karol G, Daddy Yankee, Pitbull, Drake, Luis Fonsi, and Justin Bieber. Their claim: that the characteristic dembow rhythm (the famous "boom-ch-boom-chick") originated in their song "Fish Market" from 1989.
The lawsuit, originally filed in 2021, sought compensation for the unauthorized use of what they considered their musical creation. But the case took an unexpected turn in July 2026, when Judge Birotte initially allowed the case to proceed to trial. However, upon reconsidering the arguments, the magistrate reversed his own decision.
The Ruling: A "Copyright Frankenstein"
The key to the dismissal lies in the nature of the claim. The plaintiffs did not identify a single protected work containing the selection and arrangement of elements they claimed. Instead, they cited multiple songs combined into what the judge called a "copyright Frankenstein" or an "abstract amalgam".
"You cannot protect a rhythm by reverse-engineering three different songs once you are already in court. Copyright protects what an artist actually created, not a collage assembled in litigation."
United States copyright law establishes that protected elements must exist in a single song, not in an artificial combination of several works. This legal basis was fundamental to the decision.
What It Means for Music
Critics of the lawsuit warned that the case sought a monopoly over an entire musical genre. Dembow, which has roots in Jamaican reggae and dancehall, evolved in Panama and Puerto Rico to become the foundation of modern reggaeton.
This ruling sets an important precedent: generic rhythms and musical patterns cannot be appropriated by a single artist or group. Creativity and musical evolution are protected, allowing the genre to continue growing without fear of massive litigation.
What Remains of the Case
Although most of the lawsuit was dismissed, limited claims remain regarding songs that allegedly directly sampled Steely & Clevie's sound recordings. These cases are more specific and focus on the literal use of recorded material, not general rhythmic patterns.
For the defendant artists, the victory is resounding. For the music industry in general, it is a sign that innovation and inspiration will not be punished as long as a protected work is not directly copied.