Bad Bunny Seeks $465,000 in Legal Fees After Winning ‘Un Verano Sin Ti’ Copyright Case

Bad Bunny is asking a court to order record label emPawa Africa to pay $465,612 in legal fees after he triumphed in a copyright case over his Un Verano Sin Ti track “Enséñame a Bailar.” The lawsuit was filed last May by the Nigerian producer Dera (Ezeani Chidera Godfrey), who alleged the song included an uncleared sample of a 2019 track he produced for the artist Joeboy, “Empty My Pocket.” After Godfrey failed to appear at a Feb.

5 discovery hearing and missed a March 6 filing to continue the case, however, the presiding judge dismissed the suit on March 9. The blown deadline and missed hearing came after Godfrey’s lawyers withdrew from the case in January, citing “irreparable differences” over legal strategies (per Billboard ). Godfrey’s label, emPawa Africa, was dismissed as a plaintiff from the case in February for also missing deadlines.

In a motion filed on Monday, March 23, and obtained by Rolling Stone , Bad Bunny’s attorneys stated that the case was “meritless from the beginning and should never have been brought.” They argued that “Empawa...