Bad Bunny Sued for $16 Million Over Voice Recording
- Bad Bunny,a Puerto Rican rapper,has faced multiple lawsuits alleging unauthorized use of voice recordings in his music.
- Benjamin Flynn filed a lawsuit against Bad Bunny (Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) in December 2023, alleging that his voice was sampled without permission for use in the song...
- Flynn is seeking damages exceeding $75,000, citing copyright infringement, unjust enrichment, and violation of his right of publicity.
Bad Bunny and Voice Sampling Lawsuits
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Bad Bunny,a Puerto Rican rapper,has faced multiple lawsuits alleging unauthorized use of voice recordings in his music. As of January 11, 2026, these legal challenges continue to develop.
Current Lawsuit: Benjamin Flynn
Benjamin Flynn filed a lawsuit against Bad Bunny (Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) in December 2023, alleging that his voice was sampled without permission for use in the song “UN PRENDIDO” from the album “nadie sabe lo que va a pasar mañana.” Reuters reports that Flynn claims he recorded a promotional message for a social media campaign in 2022, and that portion of the recording was incorporated into the song.
Flynn is seeking damages exceeding $75,000, citing copyright infringement, unjust enrichment, and violation of his right of publicity. Reuters further details that the lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Previous Lawsuit: Carliz de la Cruz Hernández
In 2023, Bad Bunny was also sued by his former girlfriend, Carliz de la cruz Hernández, over the alleged unauthorized use of her voice in two songs. Pitchfork reported on the initial filing. The lawsuit alleges that Bad Bunny used a voice memo sent to him without her consent.
As of January 11,2026,this case remains ongoing,with no publicly available final ruling. Billboard confirms the case is still active as of November 2023, and no further updates have been confirmed by authoritative sources as of the current date.
Copyright and Right of Publicity Laws
Copyright law protects original works of authorship, including sound recordings. The United States Copyright Office outlines these protections under Title 17 of the U.S. Code.Sampling a voice recording without permission can constitute copyright infringement.
The right of publicity protects an individual’s right to control the commercial use of their name, image, and likeness, which can include their voice.Cornell Law School’s Legal Facts Institute provides a detailed overview of the right of publicity, noting that state laws vary regarding its scope and enforcement.