Bonny Cepeda defends himself after plagiarism accusations for the bachata “Pena por ti”

Santo Domingo.- Dominican singer and songwriter Bonny Cepeda is facing a trial for alleged violation of copyright law, accused of plagiarizing the well-known bachata “Pena por ti”, originally by artist Luis Segura. Cepeda publicly defended himself through his social media, where he stated that “I have never claimed authorship of the work ‘Pena por ti’, which my mother taught me to sing since I was a child. I am the author of more than 300 songs and I know the value and feeling of the composers. We all know, including myself, that this emblematic song is by maestro Luis Segura.” The legal process, which began this Tuesday, October 21st, in the Fifth Chamber of the Civil and Commercial Court of the First Instance Court of the National District, stems from a lawsuit filed by Luis Segura on November 22, 2024. Segura accuses Cepeda of claiming authorship of the song, modifying it, and distributing it without proper license or recognition.

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The song in question is part of Luis Segura’s self-titled album, released in 1982, and is considered a classic of the bachata genre, recognized and celebrated throughout the Dominican Republic and beyond. Dominican justice has set the next hearing for the case for December 3, at which time it is expected to clarify the situation and issue a final ruling. In the meantime, the dispute continues to be a topic of conversation both in the public and in the music industry.