MIAMI - In a landmark decision, U.S. District Judge André Birotte Jr. has ruled that a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Jamaican producers Cleveland "Clevie" Browne and Wycliffe "Steely" Johnson against numerous reggaetón artists and record labels can proceed. This case, centered around the alleged unauthorized use of the "Fish Market" riddim in around 1,800 Latin music songs, could have far-reaching consequences for the entire reggaeton genre.
According to Court News, Judge Birotte Jr. denied most of the motions to dismiss the consolidated lawsuit brought by Cleveland Browne and the estate of the late Wycliffe Johnson, who, under the name Steely & Clevie recorded the song "Fish Market." The motion had been introduced by the lawyers of more than 100 of the biggest names in Latin music including Bad Bunny, Karol G, J Balvin, Sebastián Yatra, and Camilo, among many others.
