Judge Rules Mariah Carey Did Not Copy Christmas Hit Song

• Mar 21, 2025

A U.S. federal judge has ruled that Mariah Carey did not steal her holiday classic All I Want for Christmas Is You from other songwriters. The decision brings an end to a $20 million lawsuit filed against Carey and her co-writer, Walter Afanasieff.

On Wednesday, Judge Mónica Ramírez Almadani granted a summary judgment in favor of Carey and Afanasieff, meaning the case was dismissed without going to trial. The lawsuit, filed in 2023 by songwriters Andy Stone and Troy Powers, alleged that Carey’s 1994 hit copied elements of their 1989 country song with the same title.

Songwriters Fail to Prove Copyright Infringement

Stone and Powers claimed that their song had a “unique linguistic structure” in which a person rejects expensive gifts and writes to Santa Claus instead, expressing a desire to be with their loved one. They argued that Carey and Afanasieff likely heard their song, which reached No. 31 on Billboard’s Hot Country chart, before writing their own.

However, after reviewing testimony from music experts on both sides, the judge agreed with the defense. The court found that both songs used common Christmas themes that existed long before either was written. The ruling stated that Stone and Powers failed to prove substantial similarities between the two songs.

Judge Ramírez Almadani also issued sanctions against the plaintiffs and their attorneys, calling the lawsuit frivolous. She ordered them to cover part of the legal fees for Carey and Afanasieff, stating that the plaintiffs’ lawyers did not make a reasonable effort to ensure their claims had solid evidence.

Carey's Christmas Hit Remains a Record-Breaker

Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You has only grown in popularity since its release. Over the past six years, it has consistently reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart during the holiday season. The song has been streamed more than 2 billion times on Spotify and continues to break records annually.

Despite their legal victory, Carey and Afanasieff have had their own public disagreement over who contributed more to the song’s creation. However, this case saw them stand together in defense of their work.

Carey, who previously made headlines for unsuccessfully attempting to trademark the title “Queen of Christmas,” was recently nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s 2025 class.