Mariah Carey, the undisputed ‘Queen of Christmas,’ has once again successfully defended her beloved holiday anthem, All I Want for Christmas Is You. On March 19, 2025, a Los Angeles court ruled in her favor, dismissing the long-standing Mariah Carey All I Want for Christmas Is You lawsuit filed by musicians Andy Stone and Troy Powers.

This case, which initially surfaced in 2022 and was refiled in 2023, has stirred debates about originality in the music industry. However, the court found that the similarities between Carey’s song and Stone’s 1989 track of the same name were too minimal to constitute copyright infringement. The Mariah Carey All I Want for Christmas Is You lawsuit has now been dismissed twice, reinforcing the song’s legal standing.

Why Was the Case Dismissed?

Judge Monica Almadani ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prove that Carey’s 1994 holiday hit copied elements of Stone’s country song. A professional musicologist’s analysis concluded that while both tracks share the same phrase, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” they differ significantly in melody, harmony, rhythm, and lyrics. The Mariah Carey All I Want for Christmas Is You lawsuit ultimately failed due to a lack of substantial similarities between the two songs.

Timeline of Events

Date	Event
1989	Andy Stone releases his song All I Want for Christmas Is You.
1994	Mariah Carey releases her now-iconic All I Want for Christmas Is You on her Merry Christmas album.
June 2022	Stone and Powers file a lawsuit for $20 million, alleging copyright infringement.
November 2022	The lawsuit is dropped.
November 2023	Stone and Powers refile their lawsuit in a Los Angeles court.
March 19, 2025	The lawsuit is dismissed due to lack of evidence.

Q&A: What You Need to Know

Q: Did Mariah Carey directly copy Andy Stone’s song?
A: No, the court found no substantial evidence proving that Carey’s 1994 track was derived from Stone’s 1989 song.

Q: What was the key factor in the dismissal?
A: A professional musicologist determined that the two songs were structurally different, except for the common phrase “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

Q: Has this case been brought up before?
A: Yes, Stone first filed the lawsuit in 2022 but later dropped it. He refiled in 2023, and the court dismissed it again in 2025.

Q: What does this mean for musicians claiming copyright infringement?
A: This case reinforces the idea that common phrases or themes alone are not enough to prove copyright violations without substantial musical similarities.

Why This Ruling Matters

Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You is more than just a song—it’s a holiday staple. Since its release in 1994, the song has consistently topped the charts every Christmas season. In December 2024, it became the first holiday song to surpass two billion streams on Spotify. The Mariah Carey All I Want for Christmas Is You lawsuit being dismissed again ensures that the song’s legacy remains untarnished.

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This ruling highlights the challenges of copyright law in the music industry, where common phrases and themes can exist across multiple compositions without legal conflict. For artists, it serves as a reminder that proving copyright infringement requires more than just shared words or ideas—it demands clear musical evidence.

My Unbounded’s Final Thoughts

Despite repeated legal challenges, Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You continues to reign supreme as a holiday classic. With another lawsuit dismissed, it looks like the only thing Carey has to worry about this Christmas is how to celebrate another season of success!

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Sources

• Watts, Marina. “Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ Copyright Lawsuit Dismissed — Again.” People, March 20, 2025. Link
• RIAA. “All I Want for Christmas Is You Certified Diamond.” Recording Industry Association of America, December 2024. Link
• Ferrara, Lawrence. “Musicology Report on Copyright Case.” New York University, March 2025. Link

Filipe Vicente / Setor VIP, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

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