Canadian Songwriters Claim Copyright Infringement on Carrie Underwood’s ‘Something in the Water’

Carrie Underwood is facing some legal troubles as two Canadian songwriters have filed a lawsuit alleging copyright infringement.

According to WKRN, Ronald McNeill and Georgia Lyons-Savage allege that they composed the chorus, melody and lyrics to a song called “Something in the Water” in August 2012 and pitched to Underwood’s team the following month. According to the pair, her team passed on the track.

The news outlet reports that the lawsuit claims a song by the same name, co-written by Underwood, Chris DeStefano and Brett James, ended up on Underwood’s 2014 Greatest Hits album with a hook that is lyrically identical to that of the plaintiffs’.

McNeill and Lyons-Savage have allegedly asked for a jury trial and any profits the song has generated. There has neither been a statement from Underwood, nor her team, at this time.

In 2013, another song Underwood was involved with was also involved in legal battles. Songwriter Amy Bowen, who goes by the name of Lizza Connor professionally, stated that the song “Remind Me,” recorded by Underwood and Brad Paisley, had similar phrasing to a song she’d written in 2007.

The claim was found in Paisley’s favor in 2016 when a judge ruled that the songs differ because Paisley and Underwood’s version is more conversational because of the back and forth between the duet.

“Because the undisputed facts establish that the allegedly infringing Paisley Work is not substantially similar to the plaintiff’s copyrighted Work, the defendants are entitled to summary judgment in their favor. An appropriate order granting the defendants’ motion is filed herewith,” said Judge Aleta Trauger.

No word on how the current case will proceed.