Judge delays decision on Taylor Swift lawsuit in Florida

Judge Aileen Cannon has not made a decision on whether to dismiss a copyright infringement lawsuit involving Taylor Swift’s production company. The judge's ruling is still pending, nearly two months after the motion was filed. The lawsuit was brought by Kimberly Marasco, a Florida artist, who claims that Swift and her production company used her work without permission. Earlier, Judge Cannon dismissed Swift herself from the case due to Marasco's failure to serve the lawsuit promptly. However, the claims against Taylor Swift Productions, Inc. are still active. In her latest lawsuit, Marasco also included songwriters Jack Antonoff and Aaron Desner, Universal Music Group, Inc., and Republic Records. This new case is being handled by Judge Jose E. Martinez. The lawyers for Taylor Swift Productions, Aaron S. Blynn and Katherine Wright Morrone, filed a motion on January 21 to dismiss the case. They argue that many of Marasco's claims are too old to be valid under the law, as copyright claims must typically be filed within three years of the plaintiff’s awareness of the alleged infringement. They noted that the albums in question, "Lover," "Folklore," and "Evermore," were released before 2021 and widely publicized. In response, Marasco stated that being a well-known artist does not mean she was aware of the specific lyrics Swift sang at the time of the album releases. She claimed that she only became aware of the alleged copyright issue after attending Swift's Eras Tour in 2024. The lawyers for Swift's production company insist that Marasco's claims are unfounded and advise that the case should be dismissed permanently. Marasco argues that her creative works are unique and deserve protection, highlighting the importance of copyright laws for all artists, regardless of their fame. The next steps in the process depend on Judge Cannon's ruling on the motion to dismiss. The defendants in Marasco's latest complaint have been issued summons and will have 21 days to respond once served.