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🇯🇲 Jamaica /Culture & Society

Steely and Clevie Copyright Battle Is ‘Far From Over,’ Attorney Says

From Jamaica Observer · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • A U.S. judge reversed an earlier ruling that would have allowed Steely and Clevie’s copyright claims against more than 150 hip-hop and reggaeton artists to proceed to trial.
  • Jamaican attorney Lloyd Stanbury said the lawsuit remains active and that the plaintiffs can appeal the decision.
  • The case concerns alleged use of elements from the duo’s 1989 song “Fish Market,” which lawyers say influenced numerous songs and reggaeton rhythms.

A Jamaican attorney who once represented dancehall producers Steely and Clevie says their copyright lawsuit against more than 150 hip-hop and reggaeton artists is “far from over,” despite a U.S. judge’s reversal of an earlier ruling.

U.S. District Judge Andre Birotte Jr. initially cleared the way in July for the producers’ estate to pursue composition copyright claims against the high-profile artists. But after lawyers for reggaeton star Bad Bunny persuaded him to reconsider, Birotte ruled that the claims should no longer proceed to trial.

Rolling Stone described the reversal as a significant blow to Steely, whose real name was Wycliffe Johnson, and Clevie, Cleveland Browne. Browne filed the lawsuit in 2021, while Johnson died in 2009. Their lawyers argued that elements of the duo’s 1989 song “Fish Market” had been sampled by artists including Drake, Bad Bunny, Pitbull, Justin Bieber and Daddy Yankee.

far from over

· Lloyd StanburyThe Jamaican attorney described the status of the copyright lawsuit after the judge reversed an earlier ruling.

Stanbury rejected reports that the judge’s decision had effectively ended the case. “I would say to all the media persons and self-made journalists jumping to conclusions and writing for likes and views, the lawsuit is still before the court, and the plaintiffs have a right to appeal and challenge the recent backsliding decision of the presiding judge,” he told Observer Online. Browne declined to comment.

The dispute touches on the long-standing influence of 1980s and 1990s dancehall-reggae on reggaeton, a sound that emerged in Puerto Rico in the late 1980s and expanded in Panama in the early 1990s. Steely and Clevie produced or created rhythms for songs including Shabba Ranks’ “Wicked inna Bed” and “Dem Bow,” whose Fish Market-driven beat has been cited as an influence by many reggaeton artists.

I would say to all the media persons and self-made journalists jumping to conclusions and writing for likes and views, the lawsuit is still before the court, and the plaintiffs have a right to appeal and challenge the recent backsliding decision of the presiding judge

· Lloyd StanburyStanbury argued that the case remains active and can be appealed.
About this summary

Originally published by Jamaica Observer in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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