Last week, a US federal judge dismissed a high-profile copyright lawsuit against Dua Lipa over her global hit Levitating, and the decision could be a turning point for how courts approach music copyright claims.

At Songpact, we’re focused on protecting original work while ensuring that creativity isn’t stifled by overly broad legal claims. This case is a timely reminder of why that balance matters, and how the legal system is evolving to support it.

The Case in a Nutshell

However, US District Judge Katherine Polk Failla ruled in Dua Lipa’s favour, finding that the similarities involved were not protectable under copyright law. The musical phrase in question amounted to a descending scale and one additional note – elements considered basic musical building blocks, not original creative expressions.

Why the Case was Dismissed

The ruling leaned heavily on a recent case involving Ed Sheeran, where the court confirmed that fundamental elements such as chords, scales and rhythms are not subject to copyright protection.

Judge Failla made it clear: musical styles (like “pop with a disco feel”), tempos, and long-established techniques (such as “patter-style” vocal delivery) are not protectable. To treat them as such would risk closing the door on entire genres and future innovation.

In the judge’s view, the similarity concerned only “non-copyrightable elements”, which meant there was no case to answer.

The Bigger Picture for Artists

This isn’t just a celebrity headline. For songwriters, producers and rights-holders, this ruling sends a strong signal about how originality is defined in the eyes of the law.

The message is clear:
✅ You cannot copyright a scale.
✅ You cannot claim ownership of a musical style.
✅ You cannot prevent others from working within the same creative space.

It’s a win for artistic freedom, but also a reminder of how important it is to understand what is, and is not, legally protectable in your own music. That’s a space where Songpact is proud to offer support.

What we’re learning

Cases like this help define the boundaries of modern music law. As platforms like Songpact continue to make legal tools more accessible and transparent, we are learning as well – from creators, from legal decisions, and from the conversations they spark.

Whether you’re negotiating producer agreements, reviewing terms, or seeking to protect your catalogue, understanding what you actually own – and what falls into the public domain – is more important than ever.

Songpact gives you the tools to put fair, clear agreements in place with your collaborators; so you can create confidently and avoid confusion later.

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📸 credit: Dua Lipa / YouTube