Sony Music Settles Lawsuit Over Houston Biopic

Sony Music Entertainment (SME) has officially settled its copyright lawsuit against the production companies behind the 2022 Whitney Houston biopic 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody,' dismissing the case with prejudice. SME's lawsuit, filed in February, accused the filmmakers of failing to pay licensing fees for 24 of Houston's songs, including classics like 'I Will Always Love You' and 'How Will I Know.' The settlement comes after months of negotiations, with the parties previously indicating a resolution was imminent but requiring more time to finalize the agreement. The biopic has grossed nearly $60 million worldwide, highlighting the significance of the included music. Despite the resolution of this case, the music industry continues to face rising litigation challenges, including a substantial copyright complaint from Universal Music Group against other entities. The exact terms of the settlement between SME and the defendants remain undisclosed.