International pop sensation Dua Lipa has emerged victorious in a copyright lawsuit that accused her of plagiarizing her chart-topping hit Levitating. The British-Albanian singer, known for her distinctive style and infectious pop tracks, faced legal challenges from two veteran songwriters, L. Russell Brown and Sandy Linzer, who alleged that Levitating had unlawfully copied elements from their songs.

Background of the Lawsuit

The lawsuit, filed in 2022, claimed that Dua Lipa’s 2020 hit bore striking similarities to two tracks from the late 1970s and early 1980s—“Wiggle and Giggle All Night” (1979) and “Don Diablo” (1980). Brown and Linzer, who were credited with writing these songs, alleged that specific melodic and rhythmic patterns in Levitating were lifted from their compositions.

The plaintiffs argued that the descending melody line in Levitating mirrored key parts of their songs, which they claimed constituted a clear case of copyright infringement. Given the immense popularity of Levitating, which spent weeks at the top of charts around the world and garnered billions of streams, the stakes of the lawsuit were high.

Court Ruling in Dua Lipa’s Favor

On Thursday, US District Judge Katherine Polk Failla ruled in Dua Lipa’s favor, dismissing the lawsuit. Judge Failla determined that the similarities between Levitating and the plaintiffs’ songs were too generic to warrant copyright protection. In her ruling, she highlighted that the alleged similarities were based on “non-copyrightable musical elements”, which had been utilized in numerous works long before Brown and Linzer’s songs were released.

Judge’s Analysis of the Case

Judge Failla’s decision emphasized that the disputed musical elements—such as the descending chromatic scales and syncopated rhythms—are “commonplace” in music and have been used across genres and centuries. She cited examples of renowned composers and artists who employed similar musical structures, including:

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, whose compositions often included chromatic progressions.
• Gilbert and Sullivan, famed for their contributions to musical theatre, who used comparable melodic patterns in their works.
• The iconic Bee Gees, whose classic disco anthem Stayin’ Alive also contained similar rhythmic elements.

The court concluded that these elements were “building blocks of music” and not protected by copyright, rendering the plaintiffs’ claims invalid.

Second Legal Victory for Dua Lipa

This is not the first time Dua Lipa has successfully defended herself against plagiarism claims related to Levitating. In June 2023, she won another lawsuit in which a Florida-based reggae band named Artikal Sound System alleged that Levitating was copied from their 2017 song “Live Your Life.” The court found no substantial similarities between the two tracks and dismissed that case as well.

Levitating: A Global Success Story

Levitating, released as part of Dua Lipa’s critically acclaimed 2020 album Future Nostalgia, became a global phenomenon, topping charts across the globe and securing its place as one of the defining pop anthems of the decade. The song’s infectious beat, disco-inspired rhythm, and Lipa’s smooth vocals made it a fan favorite, amassing billions of streams and dominating platforms like Spotify and TikTok.

The success of Levitating not only solidified Dua Lipa’s status as a leading force in contemporary pop music but also earned her numerous accolades and nominations, including Grammy recognition.

Dua Lipa’s Response and Moving Forward

Though Dua Lipa has not publicly commented on the most recent court ruling, her legal victories are likely to be seen as a significant win for artists who navigate the complexities of copyright law in an era where musical influences and genres often intersect.

With this legal hurdle behind her, Dua Lipa can continue focusing on her flourishing career, which shows no signs of slowing down. Her fans eagerly anticipate new music and projects, while Levitating remains a testament to her global impact on pop music.

As copyright disputes become increasingly common in the music industry, Dua Lipa’s successful defense sets a precedent for future cases and reaffirms that inspiration drawn from musical traditions cannot be easily claimed as exclusive intellectual property.