Sony Music Entertainment has dismissed its copyright lawsuit against the production companies behind "Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody" (2022), nine months after filing the original complaint.

The lawsuit centered on alleged unpaid synchronization fees for 24 Whitney Houston songs used in the biopic. While specific financial details were redacted in the court documents, the licensing fees were likely substantial given the prominent nature of the musical works involved.

Key points about the case:

• The film reportedly earned $59.4 million at the box office on a $45 million budget
• The production companies allegedly failed to pay the agreed-upon licensing fees by the 2023 deadline
• Sony Music filed for dismissal with prejudice, though settlement terms remain undisclosed

This resolution comes amid other notable music industry legal battles, including:

• Universal Music Group's $500 million lawsuit against Believe and TuneCore over alleged piracy
• A complex sampling dispute involving Plies, Soulja Boy, Megan Thee Stallion, and GloRilla
• Ed Sheeran's recent victory in the "Thinking Out Loud" copyright case

The dismissal marks the end of this particular legal dispute between Sony Music and the biopic's producers, though the specific terms of the resolution remain private.

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