The Florida court ruled there was no evidence of copyright infringement, dismissing the $50 million case over lack of merit
Karol G and Tiësto have officially walked away victorious from a high-profile copyright lawsuit surrounding their global dance hit “Don’t Be Shy.” The case, which alleged the track bore “substantial similarities” to a 2000 Cuban song titled “Algo Diferente” by Rene Lorente, has been dismissed by a Florida judge who found the claims unsubstantiated and the plaintiff’s expert witness “unreliable.”
The legal battle began when Lorente accused the duo of copying elements from his lesser-known track, demanding over $50 million in damages. But in a 17-page decision, U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga shut down the case, citing a lack of credible evidence and a poorly supported argument from Lorente’s side.
Central to Lorente’s argument was the testimony of musicologist Richie Viera, who claimed to have identified similarities between the two songs. But Judge Altonaga criticized his analysis as “lacking basic musical knowledge,” noting his failure to explain fundamental concepts like the “circle of fifths” and his misrepresentation of chord progressions in both tracks.
Even more damaging was Viera’s omission of prior art—examples of similar musical elements in older works—a critical step in any copyright comparison. The judge concluded: “His opinion lacks the intellectual rigor necessary to be considered reliable by the court.”
Adding to the plaintiff’s woes, the argument that Tiësto or Karol G could have accessed “Algo Diferente” because it was on YouTube and Spotify didn’t hold water. With only 670 YouTube views and 2,718 Spotify streams by mid-2022, Altonaga wrote, “No reasonable jury could conclude these numbers demonstrate actual access.”
The artists’ legal team welcomed the decision, calling the lawsuit “meritless from the start.” Tiësto and Karol G’s attorney James Sammataro told Rolling Stone: “There was never proof of access. The plaintiff’s song was obscure and relied on generic musical tropes that predate Mozart.”
For Karol G, “Don’t Be Shy” marked her first English-language release and a massive step into the global pop arena. The 2021 track climbed to No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs Chart and amassed over a billion streams, cementing its place as one of the defining dance anthems of the decade.
On the other side, Lorente’s lawyer said they “respect the court’s decision” but are considering an appeal. “This highlights how difficult it is for small creators to challenge big names in the music industry,” he added.
With the lawsuit now closed, “Don’t Be Shy” remains untarnished, and Karol G continues her ascent as one of Latin music’s global icons. Tiësto, too, stays firmly in the dance music elite, proving that sometimes a hit is simply the result of talent and timing—not plagiarism.
