Universal Music Group Wins Copyright Lawsuit Over Mary J. Blige’s 'Real Love'

Originally posted on Total Apex Entertainment
By Ashly E. Smith | Last updated Sep 24, 2025 8:59 PM ET

A U.S. federal court has dismissed a copyright lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) over the use of a sample in Mary J. Blige’s 1992 hit “Real Love”. In a lawsuit filed in April 2024, Tuff City Records sued UMG’s publishing division in Manhattan federal court. They alleged that “Real Love” used an unlicensed sample from the 1973 funk track “Impeach the President” by The Honey Drippers. The drum break from this song is a well-known element in hip-hop and had been previously sampled by a multitude of artists including the Notorious B.I.G, Dr. Dre, 2Pac and Doja Cat.

Universal Music Group Wins

Tuff City Records also claimed they had repeatedly informed Universal Music Group the unauthorized sample, but the concerns were allegedly ignored. On September 23, 2025, a U.S. federal court dismissed the lawsuit, finding that the sample used in “Real Love” was not substantially similar to the original work cited. This ruling, effectively concludes the legal action against Universal Music Group. The decision is significant for the music industry and copyright law, setting a precedent regarding the threshold for substantial similarity in sampling cases.

“Real Love” remains one of Mary J. Blige’s timeless classics

Music for Real Love by Mary J. Blige, Courtesy of Universal Music Group

Extracted from Blige’s debut album, What’s the 411? (1992), “Real Love” is an upbeat soul anthem based on some of her real life experiences. Written and produced by Cory Rooney and Mark Morales, the song samples Audio Two’s 1987 song “Top Billin'”. The song was issued as the album’s second single by Uptown and MCA. “Real Love” became Blige’s first top-10 hit, peaking at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100. It also topped the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Rhythmic charts, and was certified Gold on November 4, 1992.

Universal Music Group remains powerful in the music industry

Universal Music Group is the world’s leading music entertainment company, headquartered in Hilversum, Netherlands. It also has operational headquarters in Santa Monica, California.
Operating a vast network of record labels, UMG also manages a diverse roster of artists across all genres. It also has a significant presence in the global music market.

UMG’s artists, labels, and songwriters have also received numerous nominations across all genres for the 67th Annual Grammy Awards. These nominees include Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga, and The Beatles. UMG’s success is also attributed to its structure of multiple influential sublabels, fostering competition and talent development.

This article first appeared on Total Apex Entertainment and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: