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.
