Bad Bunny faces $16 million and $40 million lawsuits over unauthorized vocal samples

During Bad Bunny's recent European tour, a brief spoken interlude featuring a woman's voice sparked a $16 million lawsuit filed by Tainaly Serrano Rivera, who says her vocal snippet was used in “Solo de mí” and “EoO” without written consent. A separate $40 million suit was lodged by his former partner Carliz de la Cruz, alleging that recordings of her saying “Bad Bunny, baby” appear in “Diles,” “Pa’ Ti,” and “Dos mil 16.”

Both plaintiffs rely on Puerto Rico's image-rights law, which mandates explicit, time-limited permission for any personal likeness, including voice. Bad Bunny's defense maintains that a voice sample does not fall under image protection, yet the Supreme Court of Justice of Puerto Rico has permitted the claim concerning “Dos mil 16” to move forward. Attorneys highlight a broader industry pattern where women's short vocal contributions are often used without contracts, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation.

Veteran reggaeton singers such as Glory have spoken about the historical lack of paperwork and intimidation faced by female contributors. The cases underscore ongoing tensions over intellectual-property rights in the music business.