Pop sensation Dua Lipa has successfully won the dismissal of a copyright lawsuit alleging that her global hit Levitating copied elements from two older songs.
Dua Lipa’s Copyright Victory
In 2022, songwriters L. Russell Brown and Sandy Linzer filed a lawsuit, accusing Lipa of plagiarizing parts of their 1979 track Wiggle and Giggle All Night and 1980’s Don Diablo. However, on March 21, 2024, US Judge Katherine Polk Failla ruled in Lipa’s favor, stating that the alleged similarities were too generic to be copyrighted.
Key Rulings in Dua Lipa’s Favor
✔ The similarities were common musical elements also used by Mozart, Gilbert & Sullivan, and the Bee Gees (Stayin’ Alive).
✔ The court ruled that a pop-disco style and melodic phrasing are not legally protectable.
✔ The decision was announced on the fifth anniversary of Levitating’s release from Lipa’s award-winning album Future Nostalgia.
Previous Levitating Copyright Cases
This is the second time Dua Lipa has won a plagiarism lawsuit over Levitating.
- Florida reggae band Artikal Sound System also sued Lipa, claiming she copied their 2015 track Live Your Life.
- The case was dismissed in 2023 after the judge ruled there was no proof Lipa had access to their song before writing Levitating.
Ongoing Legal Battle
Despite these victories, Dua Lipa still faces one more lawsuit over Levitating:
✔ Musician Bosko Kante claims his talk-box vocals were used on remixes of Levitating without permission.
✔ He is suing for at least $2 million in damages and a share of remix profits, estimated at $20 million (£15 million).
Will Brown & Linzer Appeal the Ruling?
Following the court’s decision, Brown and Linzer’s legal team expressed disagreement and confirmed plans to file an appeal.
Meanwhile, Dua Lipa has not publicly commented on the ruling.
This major legal win strengthens Lipa’s position in the music industry, reinforcing that generic musical elements cannot be monopolized under copyright law.
