A court has thrown out a copyright infringement lawsuit filed against Cardi B. The plaintiffs had claimed that her 2024 song “Enough (Miami)” unlawfully sampled a 2021 track called “Greasy Frybread.”
Producers Joshua Fraustro and Miguel Aguilar, who perform as Kemika1956, had asked for 50 million dollars in damages. Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. ruled that the court did not have jurisdiction over Cardi B or her co-defendants at Atlantic Records.
Technical Error Undermines Case
The main issue in the case was a technical problem with the plaintiffs’ work. They had not properly registered their song with the U.S. Copyright Office. This registration is required to bring a copyright claim in federal court.
Atlantic Records’ lawyers highlighted this gap. The producers later attempted to revise their claim to a common law copyright case under Texas state law. However, the judge ruled that federal law takes priority in such matters.
He also noted that the plaintiffs did not present a valid claim, even if jurisdiction had existed.
Defense Maintains Song Was Original
The instrumental for “Enough (Miami)” was produced by OG Parker and DJ SwanQo. Cardi B’s legal team maintained that the track was an original creation.
Cardi B Adds to Legal Wins
Cardi B has previously spoken about legal challenges like this.
“I’ma clear my name every time… leave me tf alone if ya got a problem.”
This decision adds to her record of successful court appearances. In 2022, she won a five million dollar tattoo-related copyright case.
Legal experts say the ruling highlights the importance of proper copyright registration. Without it, plaintiffs cannot claim large statutory damages, which can reach 150 thousand dollars per infringement.
Implications for the Industry
The decision means “Enough (Miami)” can continue to be distributed worldwide without any legal restrictions.
The producers could attempt to file the case again in another court. However, experts believe success would be very unlikely after this ruling.
Ultimately, the case serves as a warning to independent creators about the importance of proper documentation before initiating legal action.
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