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…”
