A Christmas song lawsuit in June

One of Mariah Carey’s most popular songs is hitting a sour note with an artist who only wants credit — and $20 million.  

Ms. Carey along with Sony Entertainment are being sued by a New Orleans artist who released a holiday song titled “All I Want For Christmas Is You” in 1989, five years before Ms. Carey’s song of the same title became one of the most loved — or loathed, depending on who you ask, and how far into the holiday season — contemporary holiday hit.   

Vince Vance and the Valiants allege in the lawsuit that their song became a hit in 1993. Then, in 1994, Carey and her co-writer Walter Afanasieff released their version under the Sony brand.  

As reported by the Today Show, though the songs are different in melody and lyrics, Mr. Vance’s lawsuit claims he owns the copyright on the title, “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” 

The lawsuit argues that Ms. Carey, Mr. Afanasieff and Sony didn’t seek or obtain permission to use, reproduce or distribute Vance’s song, which was “copyrightable subject matter.”