What the judge changed
Judge André Birotte Jr. had previously allowed a jury to consider whether a claimed combination of rhythmic elements associated with Fish Market could support composition-infringement claims. According to Rolling Stone's report of the revised ruling, he reversed that position on September 1. The court concluded that the plaintiffs had not pointed to a single copyrighted composition containing the full selection and arrangement they wanted to enforce. That threshold failure removes the broad theory from trial rather than asking a jury to decide whether hundreds of works copied it.
Why the scale was unusual
The consolidated litigation has implicated an estimated 1,800 songs by more than 100 artists, including Bad Bunny, Drake, Karol G and Daddy Yankee. The disputed material was tied to dembow, a percussion pattern central to reggaeton's development. A ruling that treated a combination drawn from separate musical passages as one protectable composition could have reached far beyond any single recording. The court's new reasoning narrows that risk, but it should not be read as declaring every dembow rhythm free of copyright questions in every context.
What remains unresolved
The parties must still propose a schedule for narrower allegations that particular artists directly sampled sound recordings connected to Steely & Clevie. Those claims turn on evidence different from the dismissed composition theory, including what audio was used and whether permission existed. The reported ruling is therefore a major procedural and substantive victory for defendants, not a blanket final judgment for every song. Appeals, claim-specific decisions or settlements could still change the practical outcome for individual artists and rights holders.