Karol G Hit 'Gatúbela' Faces Copyright Lawsuit After Producer Claims to Have Written Proof of Infringement
Karol G and Universal Music face a copyright infringement lawsuit over the hit song "Gatúbela," with plaintiffs seeking $6 million in damages.
El Salvador-based producer Alfr3d Beats and Florida's Jack Hernandez (Ocean Vibes Music Publishing) filed the lawsuit in Florida federal court, claiming "Gatúbela" copied their song "Punto G."
Key points of the lawsuit:
- "Punto G" was released one month before "Gatúbela"
- Producer DJ Maff allegedly discovered the beat through Alfr3d Beats' YouTube channel
- A musicologist found "extremely similar" elements between both songs, including the main synthesizer riff and vocal chorus melody
- The similarities "would not have occurred by chance alone," according to the expert
The lawsuit gained additional weight when DJ Maff allegedly responded to Alfr3d Beats' copyright concerns on Instagram, asking him not to "tell anybody" about the alleged infringement. Though the response included a laughing emoji, the plaintiffs consider these exchanges "written admissions of guilt."
"Gatúbela," currently approaching 500 million Spotify plays, was released in 2022. The lawsuit names multiple defendants, including:
- Karol G
- Maldy
- Universal Music
- Various co-writers of the song
The case highlights the importance of proper licensing for commercial use, as Alfr3d Beats explicitly stated that "Punto G" was free only for non-commercial projects, requiring permission for commercial usage.
Businessman checking phone with charts
Related Articles
Sony Music Takes USC to Court Over Social Media Copyright Violations
