Judge Dismisses Copyright Lawsuit Against Dua Lipa Over 'Levitating'

The court ruled that the alleged similarities involved non-copyrightable elements, with the plaintiffs planning to appeal the decision.

A U.S. District Judge dismissed a lawsuit claiming Dua Lipa's 'Levitating' copied two disco-era songs, citing a lack of substantial similarity.
The court found the similarities, including a descending scale, to be non-copyrightable common musical elements.
The ruling referenced the 2023 Ed Sheeran copyright case as precedent, emphasizing that chord progressions and harmonic rhythms are not protectable under copyright law.
The plaintiffs, L. Russell Brown and Sandy Linzer, plan to appeal, arguing that the case should consider how audiences experience music rather than technical analysis.
Dua Lipa still faces a separate, ongoing lawsuit over the alleged unauthorized use of a talkbox recording in remixes of 'Levitating.'