A copyright infringement lawsuit against Brazilian pop star Anitta and Universal Music Group (UMG) has been dismissed by a federal court, which determined that the plaintiffs’ claims regarding the hit song “Funk Rave” were “speculative at best.”
The ruling, issued on Tuesday, marks a significant victory for both the internationally acclaimed singer and the major record label, who had maintained their innocence throughout the legal proceedings that began earlier this year.
The court’s decision hinged primarily on the lack of substantial evidence supporting the allegations of copyright infringement.
Songwriters who brought the lawsuit had claimed that Anitta’s track incorporated elements from their earlier work without authorization or proper attribution, but failed to provide convincing proof of these assertions.
In the 27-page ruling, the judge characterized the plaintiffs’ arguments as unfounded and without sufficient merit to warrant further legal proceedings.
“Claims of this speculative nature, without concrete musical analysis demonstrating actual infringement, cannot sustain a copyright action,” noted the court document.
The case followed standard procedures for copyright disputes in the music industry, involving detailed examinations of both compositions.
Universal Music Group, which distributes Anitta’s music globally, stood alongside the artist as a co-defendant throughout the proceedings, as the company could have faced significant financial and reputational consequences if found liable.
In cases involving musical compositions, creators typically register their works with performance rights organizations to ensure proper royalty collection and strengthen legal protection against unauthorized use.
Legal experts suggest this dismissal may establish an important precedent for handling similar copyright claims in music litigation, particularly those deemed speculative without substantive evidence.
The ruling emphasizes the necessity for plaintiffs to present concrete examples of infringement rather than vague assertions of similarity.
For Anitta, whose international profile has risen dramatically in recent years, the decision removes a potential obstacle to her continued artistic exploration and allows her to perform and promote her little-known earlier track without legal restrictions.
Her representatives expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating that the artist “remains committed to original creative expression while respecting the work of fellow musicians.”
Law360 subscribers following this case received real-time alerts about the court’s dismissal decision, keeping them informed about this significant development in music copyright law.
The legal team representing the plaintiffs has not yet announced whether they intend to appeal the decision.
Had the case proceeded, Anitta could have pursued sync deals as an alternative revenue stream by licensing her music for use in films, commercials, or video games.
