Copyright Developments

On March 19, 2025, the District Court for the Central District of California granted Mariah Carey’s motion for summary judgment dismissing a copyright infringement claim brought against her for allegedly copying the holiday hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” 

In Unicolors, Inc. v. H&M Hennes & Mauritz, L.P., Case No. 20–915, 595 U. S. ____ (2022), the U.S. Supreme Court held that the safe harbor provision provided under § 411(b) of the Copyright Act does not distinguish between a mistake of law and a mistake of fact.  Lack of either factual or legal knowledge can excuse an inaccuracy in a copyright registration.

The Supreme Court vacated the judgment of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and remanded the case for further proceedings.