Everything Music. Everything News. Everything live.

Dua Lipa Wins Copyright Lawsuit Over Her Song “Levitating”

Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Dua Lipa recently secured a significant legal victory by obtaining the dismissal of a lawsuit that accused her of copying her hit single “Levitating” from two disco tracks of the late 1970s. This decision was handed down by U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla, who determined that any similarities between Lipa's song and the 1979 track “Wiggle and Giggle All Night” by L. Russell Brown and Sandy Linzer, were not substantial enough to constitute copyright infringement. The pair, who accused Lipa of using their song's “signature melody” repeatedly throughout “Levitating,” failed to convince the court due to the generic nature of the musical components in question. This court ruling underscored the legal standards required for proving copyright infringement, particularly the need to establish “substantial similarity” between works.

The parallels cited by the plaintiffs in this case were viewed as musical elements that are too commonplace to be subject to copyright protection. Judge Failla's decision referenced past works by Mozart, the Bee Gees' “Stayin’ Alive,” and compositions by Gilbert and Sullivan, noting that these elements have been used extensively in music history, and thus, don't belong exclusively to any single creator. This aligns with another recent high-profile case involving Ed Sheeran, where the court similarly ruled that his hit “Thinking Out Loud” did not infringe on Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On.” The court found that similar chord progressions were insufficient to claim ownership over specific elements of these songs.

Dua Lipa's success in this legal battle comes during her busy Radical Optimism world tour in Australia, where she continues to engage her fans with electrifying performances. This setback for the plaintiffs doesn’t mark the end of the legal saga, however, as they plan to appeal the court's decision. They maintain that the case was meant to advocate for the preservation of original songwriting. Additionally, both the artists' and their legal representatives emphasized the necessity of examining how music is experienced by audiences rather than strictly by technical analysis in courtrooms.

Despite the back-and-forth in legal courts, “Levitating” has maintained robust popularity, becoming a chart-topping track heralded for its upbeat disco influence. Lipa’s team argued, effectively, that the songwriters suing her could not monopolize basic musical scales and elements widely used across multiple songs and genres. “Levitating” has represented the seamless fusion of disco vibes with modern pop, echoing sounds reminiscent of the past while securing a firm place in contemporary music charts.

Interestingly, the lawsuit’s dismissal in favor of Lipa also mentions her ongoing interaction with her fanbase, such as gifting a special unreleased remix to a fan, further proving her adeptness in maintaining a strong public presence amid legal battles. This particular remix, related to her song “Physical,” was done in collaboration with Australian artist Troye Sivan, underlining Lipa’s commitment to innovation and collaboration in her music projects.

This legal triumph adds to Lipa's victorious streak as she has previously overcome another copyright lawsuit concerning “Levitating.” In that instance, a reggae band, Artikal Sound System, alleged that she copied the chorus of their song “Live Your Life,” but they failed to prove that Lipa or her co-writers had the necessary access to their music—a critical component for such a lawsuit to hold.

 

Key Takeaways

Related Stories

David Gilmour Draws the Line: “I Will Never Perform with Roger Waters Again”

In a recent interview with The Guardian, Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour made one of his strongest public statements yet…

Remembering Ace Frehley: The “Spaceman” of Rock

A Memorial for Ace Frehley, A True Great Rock and Roller On October 16, 2025, the music world lost one…

Ace Frehley on Life Support: What We Know About the Reports

Ace Frehley, the legendary guitarist and founding member of KISS, is reportedly on life support after suffering a brain bleed…

Lou Gramm

Lou Gramm Announces Retirement From Touring After More Than 50 Years

Classic rock icon Lou Gramm, the unmistakable voice behind Foreigner hits like “I Want to Know What Love Is”, “Cold…

Carlos Santana Denies Bad Bunny Controversy, Blames “AI Hoax” for Fake Super Bowl Comments

Legendary guitarist Carlos Santana is pushing back against viral claims that he criticized Bad Bunny’s upcoming Super Bowl 2026 halftime…

The Eagles Add More Dates: Sphere Residency Extended Into 2026

Legendary rock band The Eagles are continuing to expand their concert presence, confirming new dates to their Las Vegas Sphere…

Sammy Hagar’s 2025 Birthday Bash: Complete Recap + Best-Available Setlists by Night

Each October, Sammy Hagar turns his birthday into one of rock’s most anticipated fan events — the Birthday Bash at…

Gene Simmons Hospitalized After Malibu Car Crash: What We Know

Rock legend Gene Simmons, co-founder and bassist of KISS, was hospitalized following a car crash in Malibu, California. The news…

Slash Teases a New Guns N’ Roses Album: What We Know So Far

Guns N’ Roses fans have reason to celebrate. Slash, the band’s legendary guitarist, has dropped major hints that a brand-new…