Karol G and Tiësto win legal battle against Cuban after a Miami judge’s ruling dismisses the plagiarism lawsuit on the song Don’t Be Shy.

Karol G and DJ Tiësto. Photo: Karol G’s Instagram profile and Shutterstock
A federal court in Miami has ended a legal dispute that had gripped the music industry by dismissing the alleged plagiarism lawsuit filed by Colombian superstar Karol G and renowned Dutch DJ and producer Tiësto over their song Don’t Be Shy. The decision, handed down by federal judge Cecilia M. Altonaga, concludes that there is insufficient evidence of copying or prior access to the plaintiff’s work.

The lawsuit was filed by René Lorente-García, a Cuban-American composer based in the United States, who alleged that “Don’t Be Shy,” released in 2021, plagiarized key elements of his song “Algo Diferente,” registered in 1998 with the United States Copyright Office. Lorente-García initially sought compensation of at least $3 million, a figure that, according to some press reports, could have climbed to $50 million in damages.

The core of the case: access and substantial similarity

At the heart of the dispute were two key issues in any lawsuit alleging plagiarism: whether the defendants had prior access to the work and whether there was a “substantial similarity” between the two songs. Judge Altonaga, after examining the arguments and evidence from both sides, determined that neither condition was met in this case.

According to court documents, Lorente-García failed to prove that Karol G, Tiësto, or their associated producers had heard of, known about, or had access to Algo Diferente before writing “Don’t Be Shy.” The judge noted that the plaintiff’s song had very few plays on digital platforms such as YouTube and Spotify and had not been widely disseminated to the extent that it could have reached the ears of the defendant artists.

Regarding the alleged similarities between the two songs, the court concluded that the elements in question—melodic fragments, harmonic progressions, and rhythmic patterns—are part of the common musical language and, therefore, are not protected by copyright. This was argued by the defense’s expert, Dr. Lawrence Ferrara, a renowned musicologist, who explained that the similarities pointed out by the plaintiff are patterns frequently used in multiple musical genres and do not constitute original expressions exclusive to Lorente-García’s work.

Claim expert questioned

One aspect that significantly weakened the claim was the qualifications of the expert witness presented by the Cuban-American composer. Musicologist Richie Viera was deemed “unqualified” by Judge Altonaga to perform forensic musicological analysis. According to the court ruling, Viera lacked the necessary technical training and specific experience comparing musical works in legal contexts, which undermined his conclusions regarding the alleged similarities between the two songs.

Dismissal without compensation

As a result of these findings, Judge Altonaga dismissed the lawsuit and denied any possibility of compensation to Lorente-García. The ruling makes clear that the court found no evidence of copyright infringement or any harm caused to the Cuban-American composer by Karol G or Tiësto.

“Plaintiff points only to [his song’s] presence on digital platforms and its inclusion on niche albums as evidence that Tiësto and Karol G listened to his song. No reasonable jury could find access to such a record,” the judge said in the ruling.

However, the legal path is not completely closed. Lorente-García’s attorney stated after the hearing his intention to consider a possible appeal, which could prolong the litigation. If he decides to move forward, the case could be escalated to the corresponding Court of Appeals, although legal experts warn that the plaintiff would face a difficult path, given the sound reasoning presented by the Miami court.

Reaction from artists and the industry

Karol G and Tiësto’s legal teams celebrated the court ruling, highlighting the importance of protecting artists’ creative freedom in the face of accusations they maintain were unfounded. “This is a victory not only for our clients, but for all music creators, who often face baseless lawsuits seeking to profit from the success of others,” said one of the defense attorneys in statements reported by international media.

For Karol G, “Don’t Be Shy” has been one of the most successful singles of her international career, also marking her foray into English-language music. The song, featuring Tiësto, reached prominent positions on global charts and has accumulated hundreds of millions of plays on digital platforms.

A case that generated headlines

The lawsuit against Karol G and Tiësto was initially filed in August 2023 in the District Court of Puerto Rico and was later transferred to the Miami jurisdiction. Since then, the case has captured the attention of specialized media and the public, not only because of the popularity of the artists involved, but also because it has reignited the debate about the boundaries between legitimate musical influence and plagiarism.

Judge Altonaga’s ruling could set a significant precedent in the industry, especially in an era where music is distributed globally and melodic coincidences are becoming more frequent due to the massive production of musical content.

For now, Karol G and Tiësto are exonerated from any legal responsibility, putting an end—at least for now—to a controversy that threatened to overshadow one of their greatest international hits.