LEGAL FILE

Hear My Verdict: A popular song recorded by singer Gloria Estefan includes a common Latin American phrase that does not violate the copyright of another songwriter, Estefan’s lawyer said. Songwriter Eddie Palmieri sued Estefan in New York federal court last month for allegedly violating his copyright with her 1988 song, “Oye Mi Canto”--Spanish for “hear my song.” He claimed that the song stole its title phrase from one of his works. Estefan’s lawyer said the song is an original creation and that its title phrase is a common “snippet of Latin American music.”