The 6-3 ruling, authored by liberal Justice Elena Kagan, affirmed a lower court's decision that favored producer Sherman Nealy, who sued a Warner subsidiary and others in Florida federal court in 2018.
Nealy has said that his label Music Specialist owns rights to the electronic dance song "Jam the Box" by Tony Butler, also known as Pretty Tony.
Warner artist Flo Rida, whose given name is Tramar Dillard, incorporated elements of "Jam the Box" into his 2008 song "In the Ayer."
The producer requested damages for alleged copyright infringement dating back to 2008.
Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that decision and said there was "no bar to damages in a timely action."
Persons:
Flo Rida, John Shearer, Elena Kagan, Sherman Nealy, Nealy, Tony Butler, Tony, Warner, Dillard, Warner Chappell, Butler
Organizations:
U.S, Supreme, Warner Music, Warner, Circuit, Appeals
Locations:
Universal City, Calif, Miami, Florida, Ayer, Atlanta