A Los Angeles federal jury ruled that Jason Derulo does not owe writing or production credit to Matthew Spatola for the song “Savage Love” [1].
The verdict resolves a copyright dispute over one of the most successful tracks of the early 2020s. The ruling prevents a significant redistribution of royalties and clarifies the legal ownership of the song's composition.
Spatola, a guitarist and producer, filed the lawsuit after alleging he was cut out of the writing and production credits for the track [1]. The song was a chart-topping hit released in 2020 [1]. Spatola sought a portion of the earnings, and formal recognition for his contributions to the work.
The legal proceedings took place in a Los Angeles federal courtroom in 2024 [2]. During the trial, jurors reviewed evidence and deposition videos to determine if Spatola's contributions warranted legal credit. The jury ultimately found that Spatola's claims were unsupported and rejected the request for credits and royalties [1].
This decision effectively ends the copyright lawsuit against Derulo. The court's finding confirms that the existing credits for the 2020 hit remain unchanged [1]. The ruling ensures that the financial and professional attribution for the song stays with the current credited artists, and producers [3].
“A Los Angeles federal jury ruled that Jason Derulo does not owe writing or production credit to Matthew Spatola”
This ruling underscores the high burden of proof required for contributors to claim songwriting credits after a project's release. By rejecting the claim, the court protects the established royalty structures of hit records from retroactive challenges unless explicit, documented agreements or overwhelming evidence of authorship are presented.
