Mariah Carey is being sued for $20 million for alleged copyright infringement over her hit song, All I Want For Christmas Is You.
Both the singer and her co-writer Walter Afansieff are named in the lawsuit, which is being brought by songwriter Andy Stone.
Mariah first released the iconic festive tune in 1994 as part of her album, Merry Christmas, which has since become the best-selling US Christmas album of all time, selling more than 15 million copies worldwide.
In legal documents filed at the US District Court in the Eastern District of Louisiana, Mr Stone claims that he co-wrote the song in 1989 and has never given permission for it to be used.
The documents also allege Carey and her co-writers “knowingly, willfully, and intentionally engaged in a campaign” to infringe Stone’s copyright for the song.
They also state that the defendants had committed “acts of unjust enrichment by the unauthorised appropriation of plaintiff’s work and the goodwill associated therewith”.
According to the PA news agency, Stone is seeking damages of $20m (€18.6m).
The festive song has become Christmas standard since its release 28 years ago.
Its official music video, which was released on YouTube 12 years ago, has over 726 million views.
