A copyright lawsuit claiming that Karol G and Tiësto’s 2021 hit Don’t Be Shy copied a little-known 1998 song has officially been thrown out of court. The legal battle, filed by Cuban-American songwriter Rene Lorente, alleged that the chart-topping dance track infringed on his track Algo Diferente — a claim the judge strongly rejected.

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The case was dismissed on Wednesday following a blistering ruling that criticized Lorente’s chosen expert as “unqualified and unreliable.” The judge found the expert misidentified chords and presented a report lacking the necessary “intellectual rigor” to support such serious allegations.

Lorente, who was seeking $3 million in damages for alleged emotional and reputational harm, claimed the two songs shared notable similarities in melody, rhythm, harmony, and structure. However, the judge concluded there was no credible evidence that Karol G or Tiësto were ever aware of Algo Diferente — a key requirement for any copyright infringement case.

Released in August 2021, Don’t Be Shy was a breakout moment for Karol G, marking her English-language debut. The track was also a standout single from Tiësto’s seventh studio album.

At the time of release, Tiësto praised the collaboration, saying: “Karol G is such a talented superstar and the perfect addition to this song. When I first heard her smooth vocals on Don’t Be Shy, I was instantly hooked.”

With the case now dismissed, Karol G and Tiësto are free from legal entanglements surrounding the song — a dancefloor favorite that helped push Karol G further into the global pop spotlight.