Roddy Ricch, whose given name is Roderick Wayne Jr., has emerged victorious in a two-year legal battle surrounding his chart-topping hit song, “The Box.”

In December 2022, songwriter Greg Perry initiated legal action against the artist and Atlantic Records, claiming that “The Box,” released in 2019, unlawfully mirrored his 1975 single, “Come on Down.” Perry’s legal team asserted that most listeners would be able to hear “strikingly similar” elements within the songs, per Billboard.

On Feb. 12, the 25-year-old rapper received news that “The Box” had been absolved of copyright infringement following a final ruling by Judge Analisa Torres, a district judge for the southern district of New York who presided over the case. Torres determined that the two compositions differed significantly, stating “no reasonable jury could find that the works are substantially similar,” as reported by the outlet.

In her explanation of the decision, the judge noted, “‘Come On Down’ is a sentimental song about ‘love and heartbreak,’ while ‘The Box’ is a braggadocious song about ‘amassing wealth… and being more skilled than other rappers,'” per Billboard. 

In addition, Judge Torres asserted that Roddy Ricch’s track is “delivered in a monotone rap,” and Perry’s track offered a “significantly faster” tempo and a distinctive mood.

“The Box” has reached RIAA diamond status and was nominated for “Song of the Year” at the 2021 Grammy Awards. It’s a standout within Roddy Ricch’s catalog and is undoubtedly one of his most well-known works. It’s also worth noting that he isn’t the first Hip-Hop artist to incorporate melodic elements reminiscent of “Come on Down.” Per Billboard, Young Jeezy’s 2008 “Wordplay” and Yo Gotti’s 2016 song “I Remember” sample the 1975 track, albeit with proper clearance and licensing from Perry, affording him due songwriting credit and an ownership stake.

In contrast, Perry’s attorneys argued in a statement that Roddy Ricch and Atlantic Records deliberately chose not to obtain proper licensing for his song, claiming, “Comparative analysis of the beat, lyrics, hook, rhythmic structure, metrical placement, and narrative context by a musicology expert demonstrates clearly and convincingly that ‘The Box’ is an unauthorized duplication and infringement of certain elements of ‘Come On Down.'”

Nevertheless, Judge Torres’s ruling ultimately dismissed Perry’s case, which ended the lawsuit.

Copyright infringement cases can take a while to process, often requiring considerable evidence to establish proof. Robert Jacobs, a Los Angeles, CA-based lawyer who has represented artists including Kendrick Lamar and DJ Marshmello in music-related lawsuits, emphasized that these kinds of cases are complex, per Business Insider. There is a need for meticulous analysis to assess the amount of similarities between the possible infringing work and another artist’s work, as well as to quantify damages, if any, to the plaintiff.