Bad Bunny Wins Copyright Battle as Plaintiff Misses Key Deadlines

Bad Bunny has successfully defended against a copyright infringement claim related to his track "Enséñame a Bailar." The lawsuit, initiated last May by Nigerian producer Dera, alleged the song contained an unauthorized sample from his 2019 production, "Empty My Pocket." However, on Monday, March 9, 2026, Judge Otis Wright ordered the dismissal of the case.

The judge's decision was based on the plaintiff's repeated failure to adhere to court procedures. Specifically, Dera missed a March 6 filing deadline to continue the proceedings and did not attend a February 5 discovery hearing. The court concluded that these omissions constituted an abandonment of the case, deeming further continuation detrimental to the defendants and the public interest.

These missed deadlines occurred after Dera experienced a falling out with his legal team earlier this year. His lawyers withdrew from the case in January due to "irreparable differences." Dera's label, emPawa Africa, was also previously dismissed as a plaintiff for similar procedural lapses.

The dispute originally surfaced in 2023 when Mr. Eazi, founder of emPawa Africa, accused Bad Bunny of infringement. Bad Bunny's representatives asserted that the sample was cleared through Lakizo Entertainment, which had distributed the song. However, Dera's suit contended that Lakizo lacked the authority to grant such clearance.