Puerto Rican singer Benito Antonio MartÃnez Ocasio, given name of Bad Bunny, has been sued in a San Juan court by his ex-girlfriend Carliz De La Cruz for the use of the refrain "Bad Bunny baby" in several songs without his authorization. For this reason, he is seeking compensation of at least $40 million for image rights, moral copyright and damages.
Bad Bunny's Ex-girlfriend Claims $40 Million for Copyright
According to the legal document, filed on March 1 in the San Juan Court of First Instance but released on Monday, in 2015 De La Cruz and Martinez Ocasio, "decided that it would be a captivating idea" that this, after his stage name, included the word "baby."
"With the intention of making the phrase 'Bad Bunny baby' even more original, both had the idea that it was best to be recorded with the voice of Carliz, his girlfriend," with whom he began a relationship in 2011, before becoming famous, the lawsuit details.
That same year, while De La Cruz was at his then lodging, together with a friend, he received a request from the singer to record himself saying "Bad Bunny baby", something the young woman did on her cell phone.
What songs include the chorus?
Bad Bunny included that chorus in the song Pa' ti (2017), where Bryant Myers also sang, and the young woman's voice appeared "without her consent, nor written authorization," according to the court document. This was the first song Bad Bunny recorded for the Rimas Entertainment record label, which he signed with in April 2016 and has also been sued by De La Cruz.
The plaintiff alleges that Bad Bunny performed in Puerto Rico, the United States and the Dominican Republic, beginning her concerts with her voice repeating the phrase "Bad Bunny baby", along with a background rhythm.
Carliz De La Cruz Takes Bad Bunny to Court for Refrain Used without Consent
In addition, Bad Bunny again used the chorus in the song Two Thousand 16, which appears on the album A Summer Without You (2022). A day before the release of that album - on May 5, 2022 - the plaintiff alleges that the artist's representatives tried to reach an agreement with her, which she rejected without signing any contract.
"However, the disc containing the plaintiff's voice was published and sold regardless of whether she consented to the use of her voice or not, i.e. her identity," the lawsuit explains. De La Cruz's voice could also be heard at all the shows given by Bad Bunny on his Un verano sin ti tour, which took place in Puerto Rico, the United States and Latin America starting in July 2022.
In addition to excluding her name from the artistic works created, the defendants used De La Cruz's distinguishable voice without her consent for songs, albums, promotions, concerts, social platforms, music, television and radio.