Bad Bunny lawsuit over unlicensed vocal samples

Photo Credit: Bad Bunny (Facebook)

Bad Bunny was hit with a $16 million infringement lawsuit alleging that an unauthorized voice sample was used without authorization or compensation.

Just a month before his much-anticipated (and controversial, depending on who you ask) Super Bowl Halftime Show, Bad Bunny has been slapped with a $16 million lawsuit alleging that the star, Rimas Entertainment, and producer Roberto “La Paciencia” Rosado used an unauthorized voice recording without consent or any compensation.

The complaint, filed in Puerto Rico by Tainaly Y. Serrano Rivera, claims that a vocal recording of her reciting the phrase, “Mira, puñeta, no me quiten el perreo,” which roughly means, “Listen, damn it, don’t take away my dancing,” was used without permission or a written contract. She says she recorded the phrase at the request of Bad Bunny’s producer, Rosado, and that she did not know the recording would be used commercially.

The recording was featured on Bad Bunny’s 2018 song, “Solo de Mi,” and his 2025 track, “EoO.” She also alleges that her voice was used without permission during the superstar’s 31 residency concerts in Puerto Rico last year, in global tours, and across various promotional material.

“At the time of the request, the purpose of the audio was not explained, nor was the plaintiff informed that her identity would be used and commercially exploited,” the lawsuit reads, originally filed in Spanish. “No compensation of any kind was discussed. No contract or agreement was signed, nor was any license or authorization granted.”

Rivera is suing for $16 million based on alleged violations of Puerto Rico’s right of publicity and other laws regarding attribution and integrity of authorship, the right of image, privacy, and unjust enrichment.

Notably, Rivera is represented in the suit by the same legal team that sued Bad Bunny in 2023 for using the voice of his ex-girlfriend saying, “Bad Bunny, baby,” used in at least two of his tracks, allegedly without permission. That case was settled, but the details were not publicly disclosed.