Judge Denies Bad Bunny $465K in Legal Fees After Winning Dismissed Sampling Suit

U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II denied Bad Bunny's bid to recover $465,612 in legal fees from Nigerian producer Dera (Ezeani Chidera Godfrey) and his label emPawa Africa, even though their copyright suit over 'Enséñame a Bailar' (Un Verano Sin Ti, 2022) had already been dismissed. Dera alleged the track sampled his 2019 production for Joeboy, "Empty My Pocket," without clearance; Bad Bunny's team maintained the sample was cleared through producer Lakizo, though Dera disputed Lakizo's authority to grant it. The case was effectively abandoned after Dera's attorneys withdrew in January 2026 citing strategy disputes, he missed a February discovery hearing, and then missed a March 6 filing deadline, leading Judge Wright to dismiss the suit on March 9. Ruling on the fee request, Wright found emPawa's original claims "objectively reasonable" and said awarding fees to Bad Bunny would "send the wrong message" to copyright holders — leaving Bad Bunny on the hook for his own legal costs despite the win.