 The song 's second plagiarism trial was in 1993 . Reynaud Jones and Robert Smith alleged that " The Girl Is Mine " , along with " Thriller " — written by Rod Temperton — and " We Are the World " , resembled their musical works . The pair added that they had been childhood neighbours of the Jackson family when they had resided in Gary , Indiana . Jackson , Lionel Richie — co @-@ writer of " We Are the World " — and Quincy Jones were named as the defendants . The plaintiffs asserted that Joseph Jackson had received a demo tape from them . From the tapes , the defendants were alleged to have stolen the three hit songs . Reynaud Jones also claimed that he had considered suing Jackson over " Billie Jean " . Jackson appeared in court via a taped testimony . Following the testimony , the nine @-@ member jury found Jackson to be the writer and composer of " The Girl Is Mine " in early 1994 . They also ruled that the defendants had not plagiarized " Thriller " or " We Are the World " . 
