Cardi B Wins Lawsuit Over 'Enough (Miami)' Song Copying Claims

Texas federal judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. ruled in favor of Cardi B, dismissing the lawsuit filed by Joshua Fraustro and Miguel Aguilar, who accused the artist of copying the melody and bassline of their song 'Greasy Frybread' in her hit 'Enough (Miami)'.

The initial lawsuit for federal copyright infringement was dismissed because 'Greasy Frybread' was not registered with the U.S. Copyright Office. The plaintiffs later reframed the lawsuit under Texas state law, but Judge Rodriguez determined that Cardi B did not have significant ties to the state, as her performances in Texas were part of a broader tour in numerous states, which did not establish general jurisdiction.

The judge also noted the lawsuit lacked key pleading elements, including a lack of 'factual support' in the business interference claim.

Judge Rodriguez argued that even without the jurisdictional issues, the lawsuit would have been dismissed due to the lack of essential elements in Fraustro and Aguilar's allegations. Additionally, the judge dismissed the copyright infringement claims against Atlantic Records and Warner Music Group (WMG), arguing that the lack of copyright registration for 'Greasy Frybread' invalidated the claims.

'Enough (Miami)' reached number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained on the chart for 14 weeks. The song was included in the deluxe version of Cardi B's second album, 'Am I the Drama?', which debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 in October.

The song is also part of the setlist for her 'Little Miss Drama' tour.

The plaintiffs, Fraustro and Aguilar, argued that Cardi B conducted business in Texas through her concerts, but the judge was not persuaded. Judge Rodriguez wrote that Almanzar's performances in Texas were not distinct from her performances in other states, rendering them insufficient to establish general jurisdiction.

Cardi B's defense did not comment on the decision, while the attorney for Fraustro and Aguilar did not respond to requests for comment. A representative of WMG also made no statements.

The absence of copyright registration for 'Greasy Frybread' was a determining factor in the dismissal of the lawsuit. This prevented the plaintiffs from being able to prove copyright infringement, both at the federal and state levels.

The court's decision represents a significant victory for Cardi B and her legal team, who managed to dismiss the lawsuit for lack of merit and jurisdiction.