USA Herald Exclusive: Music Superstar ‘Bad Bunny’ Hit With Explosive Copyright Lawsuit Over “Enséñame a Bailar” in Federal Court
America ı By Samuel Lopez
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Core Insights
'Empawa Africa Music Services Limited et al v. Benito Martinez Ocasio et al.'
- Inside the Legal Storm: Superstar Bad Bunny is now at the center of a multi-million-dollar federal copyright lawsuit filed by Empawa Africa Music Services Limited, which claims his chart-topping hit “Enséñame a Bailar” unlawfully samples a Nigerian artist’s work.
- A Global Clash Over Creative Rights: The plaintiffs, including Nigerian artist Dera, allege Bad Bunny and his label Rimas Entertainment lifted key elements from their 2019 track “Empty My Pocket,” thrusting global music streaming giants like Spotify and Apple into the legal crosshairs.
- Case in Motion: With the lawsuit filed just last month and new developments emerging daily, all eyes are on the Central District of California as the court weighs complex questions of international copyright, fair use, and music industry practice.
By Samuel Lopez – USA Herald
LOS ANGELES, CA - In a legal twist sending shockwaves through the international music scene, global superstar Bad Bunny (Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) now finds himself at the center of a copyright lawsuit. Plaintiffs Empawa Africa Music Services Limited and Nigerian singer-songwriter Ezeani Chidera Godfrey (“Dera”) have filed suit in federal court, alleging Bad Bunny’s 2022 mega-hit “Enséñame a Bailar” was built on their original work—without permission or compensation. The complaint filed May 2, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, shows extraordinary case activity on the court’s docket considering the case’s short existence.
Background: The Battle Over Beats
Bad Bunny, widely known for breaking streaming records and pushing Latin music into the mainstream, has notched another, less enviable milestone: being named as a defendant in Empawa Africa Music Services Limited et al v. Martinez Ocasio et al, Case No. 2:25-cv-03944. At the core of the case is the allegation that “Enséñame a Bailar”—one of the standout tracks from Bad Bunny’s Grammy-winning album Un Verano Sin Ti—borrows key musical elements from Dera’s 2019 Afrobeat track “Empty My Pocket.” Plaintiffs argue that the use was not authorized and no royalties were ever paid.
Empawa Africa Music Services Limited, a powerhouse in Africa’s fast-growing music industry, has thrown its legal weight behind Dera, asserting that the hit song’s distinctive hook and rhythm were directly sampled or recreated from “Empty My Pocket.”
What the Lawsuit Claims
According to the 21-page complaint, Bad Bunny, Rimas Entertainment, and a host of co-defendants—including Apple, Spotify, Universal, and Warner-Tamerlane Publishing—were put on notice of the alleged copyright violation but have not settled the matter. The plaintiffs are seeking an injunction, damages, and disgorgement of profits tied to “Enséñame a Bailar,” which has amassed millions of streams worldwide.
Quote from the Complaint:
“Defendants willfully and unlawfully used Plaintiffs’ copyrighted work without consent, and continue to profit from the unauthorized use…”
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