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While Karol G remains out of the public eye —surrounded by pregnancy rumors— her name is back in the headlines, though not necessarily for her music. This time, the Colombian singer is facing a new lawsuit for alleged copyright infringement, and the center of the controversy is her hit song “Gatúbela.”
The lawsuit was filed in a federal court in Miami by the producers Ocean Vibes (Jack Hernández) and Alfr3d Beats (Dick Alfredo Caballero Rodríguez), who claim that "Gatúbela," released in 2022, copies key fragments of their song "Punto G," published just six weeks earlier. According to the plaintiffs, the similarities are not coincidental, but rather a direct copy of essential elements of the original composition.
The lawsuit details that an independent musicologist analyzed both songs and concluded that the synthesizer riff and vocal melody of the chorus in “Gatúbela” are “extremely similar” to those in “Punto G.” As if that were not enough, they also accuse producer DJ Maff (Marvin Hawkins Rodríguez) of having informally acknowledged the resemblance after being confronted by Alfr3d Beats on Instagram. “Don't tell anyone,” he is said to have responded, accompanied by a laughing emoji, before deleting the messages.
The album “Mañana Será Bonito,” which features “Gatúbela,” was released in February 2023 and became a global phenomenon. It reached the number one spot on the Billboard 200, marking the first time a fully Spanish-language album by a female artist achieved this. The single also climbed the charts in Latin music and entered the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. However, this new legal trouble threatens to cast doubt on that success.
And he is not the only one. In 2024, Karol G was already pointed out for similarities between her song "Contigo," featuring DJ Tiësto and Young Miko, and the hit "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis. Although she clarified that it was an authorized sample in that instance, she has also faced another more serious accusation: the Cuban-American musician René Lorente sued her for alleged plagiarism of his song "Algo diferente," composed in 1998. According to the court document, the song "Don't Be Shy" by Karol G and Tiësto features nearly identical melodic and harmonic elements to the work of the Cuban flutist, who is seeking three million dollars for the damages incurred.
Frequently asked questions about the plagiarism lawsuit against Karol G
Why is Karol G facing a plagiarism lawsuit?
Karol G is facing a lawsuit for alleged copyright infringement because her song "Gatúbela" is accused of copying key segments from the song "Punto G" by producers Ocean Vibes and Alfr3d Beats. The lawsuit claims that the similarities are not coincidental, but a direct copy of essential elements from the original composition.
What similarities are noted between “Gatúbela” and “Punto G”?
An independent musicologist analyzed both songs and concluded that the synthesizer riff and the vocal melody of the chorus of "Gatúbela" are “extremely similar” to those of "Punto G." Additionally, it is mentioned that producer DJ Maff may have informally acknowledged the resemblance.
How could this lawsuit affect Karol G's career?
This new lawsuit threatens to cast doubt on Karol G's success, especially since “Gatúbela” is part of her album “Mañana Será Bonito,” which reached the number one spot on the Billboard 200. A negative outcome could impact her reputation and career in music.
Has Karol G faced similar lawsuits in the past?
Yes, Karol G had already faced plagiarism accusations in 2024 due to similarities between her song "Contigo" and "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis, although in that case it was a licensed sample. Additionally, Cuban-American musician René Lorente sued her for the alleged plagiarism of his song "Algo diferente."
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