By Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) – Mariah Carey was sued on Friday over her 1994 Christmas traditional “All I Need for Christmas Is You” by a songwriter who mentioned he co-wrote a music with the identical title 5 years earlier.

In a grievance filed in New Orleans federal court docket, Andy Stone is looking for a minimum of $20 million in damages from Carey, her co-writer and Sony (NYSE:) Music Leisure for copyright infringement and misappropriation, amongst different claims.

Stone, who performs as Vince Vance with the country-pop band Vince Vance & the Valiants, accused the defendants of getting illegally exploited his “recognition and distinctive model” and brought about confusion by recording the newer music with out his permission.

Carey’s and Stone’s songs have completely different lyrics and melodies.

Spokespeople for Carey and Sony Music didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.

Carey’s music appeared on her album “Merry Christmas,” and has lengthy acquired widespread play on radio and in retail buying environments through the vacation season.

It has additionally topped the Billboard Sizzling 100 chart yearly since 2019, regardless of having been recorded 1 / 4 century earlier. “All I Need for Christmas Is You” was Carey’s nineteenth No. 1 music, one fewer than the Beatles.

Stone mentioned his personal music had acquired “in depth airplay” through the 1993 Christmas season, and in addition appeared on Billboard charts.

It wasn’t clear from the grievance when Stone first realized about Carey’s music.

The grievance mentioned Stone’s attorneys first contacted the defendants in April 2021 about their alleged unauthorized use, however have been “unable to return to any settlement.”

Stone’s attorneys didn’t instantly reply to requests for extra remark.

The case is Stone v Carey et al, U.S. District Court docket, Japanese District of Louisiana, No. 22-01616.