Few cases capture the importance of getting the paperwork right quite like this one.
Global reggaetón icon Daddy Yankee (Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez) has filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for Puerto Rico against his former manager Raphy Pina, his ex-wife Mireddys González-Castellanos and several others. The claim is brought under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, better known as RICO, a law originally designed to prosecute organised criminal activity. In civil disputes, RICO is used when the claimant alleges a long-term pattern of coordinated fraudulent behaviour, which is exactly what Daddy Yankee says happened.
According to the complaint, the defendants allegedly inserted Pina’s name as a songwriter on more than a dozen tracks, including Runaway, La Rompe Corazones, Bella y Sensual and Vuelve. The lawsuit says these edits were made without consent and without any creative contribution from Pina. It also alleges that edited split sheets, forged authorisations and misleading copyright filings were used to embed these credits in official industry systems. This allegedly redirected publishing income for nearly two decades.
Daddy Yankee is seeking at least 3 million US dollars in damages. He is also asking the court to order corrections to publishing records at ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and the US Copyright Office. The complaint describes what it calls a coordinated attack on the integrity of his publishing rights.
Beyond the headlines, the story exposes a structural weakness across the music industry. Many contracts and split sheets are still handled through scattered emails, loose documents or informal agreements. These fragile processes are precisely where disputes, misunderstandings and bad actors can take hold.
Why It Matters
Split sheets may look simple, but they determine ownership. They decide who gets paid and in what proportion. When created casually or stored inconsistently, they become easy targets for manipulation or misinterpretation. Once inaccurate information enters copyright databases or collection society systems, it can take years to correct.
The Daddy Yankee complaint shows how quickly a small inaccuracy can become embedded in the industry’s official machinery. It also shows how reliant the system still is on trust rather than robust tools.
How Technology Can Protect Creators
This is exactly the type of problem Songpact exists to solve.
The traditional model relies on exchanged Word files, manual edits and memories. Songpact replaces that uncertainty with a guided process that records every decision and every percentage clearly and transparently.
Instead of sending long form agreements back and forth and trying to track which version reflects which change, Songpact streamlines the entire process. The Q&A negotiator guides both sides through the key commercial terms, one step at a time. Each point is reviewed, negotiated, agreed and recorded in a single, transparent workflow. Only once those terms are settled does Songpact generate a bespoke agreement based on the final, agreed selections. This removes the risk of hidden edits, conflicting drafts or lost email chains because the entire negotiation is captured in one clear, auditable record.
For artists, managers, producers and writers, this creates a verifiable record of ownership that matches the intentions of the collaborators. It also gives creators confidence that no one can insert themselves into a deal without their knowledge.
In a world where publishing disputes can run into the millions, clarity is not optional. It is essential.
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As the case develops, it is likely to prompt wider conversations about transparency and governance in music publishing. These issues affect every creator, not just global superstars.
For anyone making music, the takeaway is clear. Your split sheet is not a formality. It is the foundation of your future income.
Learn how Songpact helps protect that foundation at songpact.com.