Sam Smith case sent to trial as judge rejects note-by-note analysis

U.S. District Judge Wesley L. Hsu denied Sam Smith and Normani's motion for summary judgment and sent the 'Dancing With a Stranger' copyright claim to trial. He ruled analysing pitch, rhythm, metric placement and contour in isolation is improper under Ninth Circuit law. The songs must be assessed as a whole, Rolling Stone reported on 23 September 2026.