Latin music is as popular as ever, so it makes sense that stars like Bad Bunny are embroiled in a growing number of major legal battles in U.S. courts. As the old music lawyer adage goes: “Where there’s a hit, there’s a writ.”

The genre has boomed in recent years, becoming the fastest-growing core music genre in the U.S. and hitting a record-breaking $1.4 billion in revenue in 2024, marking the genre’s third consecutive year surpassing $1 billion. “Latin music in the U.S. continues to gain popularity and generate increased value thanks to the incredible artists whose music connects across language and geographical barriers,” said the Recording Industry Association of America’s Matt Bass in an October report.

All that explosive growth has been fueled not only by the global superstardom of Bunny — who played this year’s Super Bowl and cleaned up at the Grammy Awards — but also by the rise of artists like Colombian star Karol G and regional Mexican powerhouses Fuerza Regida and Peso Pluma.

But with great success comes great disputes. Reggaeton stars, like Bunny himself, are facing unprecedented litigation over how key elements of their music are covered by copyright laws. Other big names, like Del Records founder Ángel del Villar, are fighting criminal charges that could put them behind bars for years. Still others, like Daddy Yankee, are using the courts to bring their own stunning allegations against others.

To get you up to speed, here’s Billboard‘s quick guide to Latin music’s major lawsuits, criminal cases and legal battles. We break down five major cases and everything you need to know about them, followed by five more key legal disputes to watch in the months ahead.