The full details of Mariah Carey’s copyright payout have emerged following the dismissal of a lawsuit accusing her of copying a Christmas classic.
Court documents show the pop star received nearly $100,000 after country singer Andy Stone alleged that Carey’s 1994 hit All I Want for Christmas Is You infringed on his 1989 song of the same title.
Stone, also known by his stage name Vince Vance, filed the suit in 2023, claiming the two songs shared similar lyrics and structure. At the time, his lawyer argued that about half of the words appeared to be the same and in a similar order.
However, in March, Judge Monica Ramirez Almadini dismissed the case, ruling that the similarities cited were merely common “Christmas song clichés,” such as references to Santa Claus and mistletoe.
Instead of the $20 million he sought in damages, Stone was ordered to pay Mariah Carey $92,000 in sanctions after the court described his claims as baseless and excessive.
In her ruling, the judge said the penalty reflected the cumulative effect of what she described as repeated and unwarranted claims, calling the lawsuit “egregious.”
The decision effectively brought the long-running dispute to an end, with Mariah Carey cleared of any wrongdoing.
