The Supreme Court of Puerto Rico delivered a legal blow to Bad Bunny by denying his legal team's attempt to dismiss a lawsuit filed by his former girlfriend, attorney Carliz de la Cruz Hernández. She is seeking at least $40 million in damages for the unauthorized use of her voice in two of his major hit songs.
Local sources revealed that Puerto Rico's highest court concluded the lawsuit "presented plausible facts regarding the existence of an original and creative work," mandating the case to proceed in the San Juan Court of First Instance.
Although the ruling, issued on July 8 in a detailed 50-page opinion, doesn't guarantee Carliz a victory, it signifies a significant setback for the artist. The court refused to dismiss the case, requiring a thorough evaluation of the claim's merits.
The Origins of the Legal Battle
This legal dispute dates back to 2015 when Carliz and Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, were still a couple. According to court documents, they agreed that incorporating the phrase "Bad Bunny baby," recorded with her voice, would enhance his emerging artistic identity. At his request, Carliz recorded the phrase on her cell phone.
That recording became one of the most recognizable trademarks of his career, featured in "Pa' ti" (2017), a collaboration with Bryant Myers and the first track Bad Bunny recorded for Rimas Entertainment. It later resurfaced in "Dos mil 16," part of the album Un Verano Sin Ti (2022). The plaintiff also claims her voice was used as an introductory element at concerts in Puerto Rico, the United States, and Dominican Republic without written consent.
The Turning Point and Legal Proceedings
The conflict escalated on May 5, 2022, a day before the release of Un Verano Sin Ti. Representatives for Bad Bunny reached out to Carliz, offering a mere $2,000 for the rights to the phrase. The two parties failed to reach an agreement, yet the album was released the next day with her voice included. Court documents bluntly state: "The album containing the plaintiff's voice was released and sold without regard for whether she consented to its use, essentially exploiting her identity."
Now a notary attorney, Carliz filed her lawsuit in March 2023 at the San Juan Court of First Instance against Bad Bunny, his manager Noah Kamil Assad Byrne, and record labels Rimas Entertainment and Rimas Classics. Her claims include $5 million for each violation of attribution rights, $5 million for each breach of integrity rights, along with similar amounts for damages, unjust enrichment, image rights violations, and damages from concerts in Puerto Rico.
Current Legal Status and Historical Context
The Supreme Court's decision has a notable caveat: the claim related to "Pa' ti" was declared time-barred, as the legal period to sue for that song had expired. However, claims concerning "Dos mil 16" and her image's use at concerts remain fully active. Carliz and Benito first met in 2011 while working together at the Econo supermarket in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, before his rise to global stardom, and they were in a relationship until 2016. Bad Bunny has not publicly commented on the court's decision.
Key Questions About Bad Bunny's Legal Issues
What are the main claims in Carliz de la Cruz Hernández's lawsuit against Bad Bunny?
Carliz's lawsuit seeks at least $40 million in damages for unauthorized use of her voice, including claims for violations of attribution and integrity rights, damages, unjust enrichment, and image rights violations.
Why did the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico reject Bad Bunny's team's attempt to dismiss the lawsuit?
The court found that the lawsuit presented plausible facts about the existence of an original and creative work, which warranted further examination of the case in the San Juan Court of First Instance.