On April 29, 2025, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals revived the copyright infringement case filed by Sound and Color, LLC against Sam Smith, Normani, and related parties (collectively, “Defendants”) concerning the hit song "Dancing with a Stranger" by reversing the District Court’s granting of summary judgment in favor of Defendants. In making its decision, the Ninth Circuit affirmed the importance of the jury’s role in assessing substantial similarity.

            Sound and Color initiated a copyright infringement case against Defendants based on its allegation that the ...