More than 30 artists, producers and record labels have been named in a lawsuit filed in late July 2022 by the production house of “dancehall reggae” Steely & Clevie Productions, alleging illegal use and patronage of elements of Fish’s “Jamaican dancehall” beat Market, released in 1989 and known internationally as Dembow.
Although the lawsuit in the United States District Court, Central District of California, for copyright infringement initially focused on the Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsiwho claimed that several of his songs shared elements with Steely & Clevie Productions creations, this has been consolidated into a single lawsuit involving multiple and popular reggaeton characters.
Fonsi’s well-known songs include “Bésame” feat. Myke Towers, “Calypso” feat. Stefflon Don, “Turn Around” feat. Sebastián Yatra and Nicky Jam, “Despacito” feat. Daddy Yankee, “Despacito Remix” ft. Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber, “Échame La Culpa” ft. Demi Lovato, “Impossible” ft. Ozuna, “Perfect” ft. Farruko, “Alone” and “Vacío” feat. Roh Alejandro.
The document comprises 82 pages and was exclusively presented on the portal on January 6th Dancehall Magdetailing the people involved in various groups, beginning with the Puerto Rican urban artist Papa YankeeFirst name Raymond Ayala, who had more than 40 associated songs identified in the consolidated lawsuit as direct samples of one or more elements of the Fish Market riddim.
Among these songs by the self-proclaimed “El Big Boss” singer, who recently completed his retired world tour, are “Gasolina”, “Dura”, “Hula Hoop”, “La Rompe Corazones” ft. Ozuna, “Shaky Shaky ‘, ‘Break’, ‘Latigazo’, ‘What Happened, Happened’ and ‘You Look Good’.
In the 40 songs indicated, the following artists, producers and companies share the allegations: Anuel AA, Yandel, Juan Carlos Salinas Jr. (Obra), Oscar Edward Salinas (Skillz), David Alberto Macias (Scott Summers), Francisco Saldaña (Luny ), Victor B Cabrera (Tunes), Carlos Isaías Morales Williams (Sech), Rafael Antonio Pina Nieves (Raphy Pina), Urbani Mota Cedeño (DJ Urba), Luis Jorge, Romero (Roma), Marcos Masis (Tainy), Juan Carlos Ozuna Rosado (Ozuna), Juan Luis Morera Luna (Wisin), Chris Jedi, Gaby Music, El Cartel Records Inc and Gasolina Publishing Co. Record label Sony Music is also among the defendants.
According to information circulated in Dancehall Mag, the lawsuit describes the rhythm as “a tambourine playing through the entire bar, a synth ‘tom’ playing on beats one and three, and timpani playing a roll at the end of every other bar, and free improvisation over the pattern throughout.” des Schlag .” Song length.
This can be seen in the consolidated complaint, which included as supporting material some images of staves containing transcriptions of the instrumental tracks comparing Fish Market’s riddim to several of the songs claimed to be infringing.
Another sought-after group of reggaetoneros also includes international artists pit bull, Afrobros and El Chombo, for their song “Dame tu cosita,” which also features Jamaican artist Cutty Ranks. In 2018, El Chombo released another remix along with “Dame Tu Cosita”. Pitbull and Karol G.who also appear in the lawsuit.