04/09/2026
Steely and Clevie just lost ground they'd already won. The same judge who sent this case to a jury back in July has now reversed himself, ruling the Jamaican duo can't claim ownership over the combination of elements they say built the dembow rhythm.
The case still touches nearly 2,000 songs and more than 150 artists, from Bad Bunny and Daddy Yankee to Drake, Karol G, and Justin Bieber.
The judge ruled that U.S. copyright law does not protect an abstract combination of elements taken from several independently existing works.
The decision eliminates a major portion of the lawsuit and represents a significant victory for Bad Bunny and the other artists fighting the claims.
However, the legal battle is not completely over. More limited claims involving songs accused of directly sampling Steelie and Clevie’s sound recordings can still proceed.
What are your thoughts on this ruling?
