Bad Bunny’s copyright infringement trial is heading for a settlement over his track Safaera. The lawsuit was filed in 2021 over unauthorised samples.
The lawsuit claims that Safaera contained music from DJ Playero’s Playero mixtapes, specifically referencing his tracks Besa Tu Cuerpo, Choca Con Bicho and Sigan Bailando. Bad Bunny and his collaborators have reached a preliminary settlement with Omar Merced.
In the original complaint, Merced asked for $150,000 in a statutory damage for each infringed work or actual damages in the way of any and all gains, profits and advantages derived from the release of Safaera as well as an injunction to impound or destroy infringing works and attorney’s fees.
Defendants listed are Bad Bunny, rappers Jowell & Randy and Nengo Flow and producers Tainy and DJ Omra alongside Bad Bunny’s label Rimas Entertainment, as well as other labels and publishing companies. Due to the sampling, Safaera was briefly pulled from digital streaming services in May 2020 to deal with sample clearing issues.
According to court documents viewed by Pitchfork, all parties reached a settlement in principle during a recent mediation. The parties have acknowledged that the process is expected to take some time since the settlement is complex and will require the review and approval of multiple corporate and individual parties.
