One of the biggest copyright battles in Latin music is officially heading to a jury trial.

A U.S. federal judge has ruled that a jury—not the court—must decide whether Jamaican production duo Steely & Clevie created the original copyrightable version of the iconic dembow rhythm, the beat that became the foundation of modern reggaeton.

The lawsuit, first filed in 2022, claims nearly 2,000 songs by more than 150 artists borrowed elements from Steely & Clevie’s 1989 track Fish Market and related recordings.

Among those named in the case are some of the biggest stars in music, including Bad Bunny, Karol G, Daddy Yankee, Drake, Pitbull, Justin Bieber and Luis Fonsi, along with companies connected to the three major record labels.

The judge ruled that both sides presented credible expert opinions on the origins of the dembow rhythm, creating factual disputes that can only be resolved by a jury.

Steely & Clevie argue that the signature rhythm originated with their recordings, while the defense maintains that dembow evolved from much older musical traditions, including the centuries-old habanera rhythm, and therefore cannot be owned under copyright law.

The case will now move into its next phase, where plaintiffs must attempt to prove the artists and record labels had access to the original recordings and unlawfully copied them in songs such as “Despacito,” “Tití Me Preguntó,” and “Dame Tu Cosita.”

If successful, the lawsuit could have major implications for reggaeton and the broader Latin music industry.