Mariah Sued by Songwriters

ByABC News
September 21, 2000, 2:24 PM

September 19 -- Songwriter Seth Swirsky might have gotten his start penning a jingle for Thomas's English Muffins, but now he and fellow tunesmith Warryn Campbell want to turn Mariah Carey into toast.

In a U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Friday, the two hit Carey with a suit alleging that her No. 1 R&B and pop hit "Thank God I Found You" infringes on the copyright of one of the duo's tunes, Billboard Bulletin reports. The suit also names producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Columbia Records, Sony Music Entertainment, and three publishing companies as defendants.

Swirsky and Campbell claim Carey's tune, from her 1999 Columbia full-length, Rainbow, bears a striking resemblance to their ditty "One of Those Love Songs."

The plaintiffs' original song was penned for Traces of My Lipstick, a 1998 album by female R&B quartet Xscape, who are signed to producer Jermaine Dupri's So-So Def label, which is distributed through Carey's label, Columbia. Coincidentally, Dupri contributed to several cuts on Rainbow.

The damages being sought in the suit have yet to be determined. Swirsky's writing credits include the '80s hits "Tell It to My Heart" and "Prove Your Love" for Taylor Dayne, as well as Celine Dion's "Did You Give Enough Love," while Campbell has worked with Mary Mary, Dru Hill, and Yolanda Adams.