Led Zeppelin copyright lawsuit moves forward
June 5, 2014 8:02 pm Leave your thoughts
We recently discussed on this blog the copyright lawsuit that has been brought against the rock group Led Zeppelin regarding alleged infringement of the famous guitar riff in the band's hit "Stairway to Heaven." The case involves accusations from the trust of a deceased member of a band called Spirit, which claims that the riff was actually ripped off from it's song "Taurus."
According to a recent article in Bloomberg Businessweek, the complaint from Spirit member and guitarist Randy California's estate wants access to Jimmy Page's cassette tapes prior to 1971. Since Stairway to Heaven was released in 1971, tapes leading up to the release could reveal parts of the songwriting and recording process that could help determine whether or not plagiarism actually did occur.
California's estate claims that Page heard Spirit play when the bands toured during the late 1960s and would have had a chance to hear the riff that Led Zeppelin allegedly stole.
However, the success of this claim could depend on whether or not Jimmy Page still has the tapes that are being demanded in the complaint. CNN reported that the lawsuit was filed on May 31.
"Any reasonable observer, when comparing 'Taurus' and 'Stairway to Heaven,' must conclude that—at the very least—significant portions of the songs are nearly identical," says the lawsuit, according to Billboard.
Additionally, the article notes that the lawsuit provides a list of prior songs that Led Zeppelin has been alleged to have stolen from other artists. This is not the first time the band has been sued for infringement.
Disputes regarding songwriting credits are not uncommon in the music industry. However, it will be up to the courts to determine whether copyright infringement took place.
Intellectual property can be one the most valuable business assets and should be properly protected. Contact a Phoenix small business attorney to learn how you can safeguard your intellectual property.
Categorised in: Intellectual Property Law
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