LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA — A copyright lawsuit involving Sam Smith and Normani’s 2019 hit “Dancing With a Stranger” is moving toward a jury trial after a federal judge rejected the performers’ latest attempt to end the case without one.
Songwriters Jordan Vincent, Christopher Miranda and Rosco Banlao contend that the hit copied the hook from their 2015 recording with the same title. The defendants include Smith, Normani and Universal Music Group.
In a 27-page ruling issued September 23, U.S. District Judge Wesley L. Hsu found factual disputes involving striking similarity, independent creation and which musical elements are legally protectable. Those disputes, the court said, should be weighed by a jury rather than resolved through summary judgment.
No finding of infringement—yet
The ruling does not establish that Smith or Normani copied the earlier song. It means the plaintiffs presented enough disputed evidence for the case to continue.
The defendants maintain that their song was created independently. They also argued that portions of the plaintiffs’ recording incorporated material from earlier copyrighted works. Hsu concluded that those questions could not be decided as undisputed facts at this stage.
A warning for artists, producers and labels
The case shows how a short but commercially important hook can expose a recording to years of litigation. Dated writing sessions, composition drafts, producer files, contributor records, sample declarations and signed split sheets may become crucial evidence if a successful song is challenged.
Independent artists should document creation before release rather than attempting to reconstruct the process after a claim arrives. Music research can measure audience reaction, but it cannot replace copyright clearance or legal review.
Source: Rolling Stone, September 24, 2026.