Hearing set for 'Stairway to Heaven' infringement suit

An official August 17 hearing date has officially been set for a copyright infringement battle involving Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven.'

The suit was originally filed in Philadelphia last year, and was subsequently transferred to Los Angeles. It claims that the Zeppelin song's famous guitar arpeggio was actually lifted from the 1968 song "Taurus," written by the former Los Angeles-based band Spirit.

The suit was originally filed by a lawyer for Spirit's now deceased guitarist/songwriter Randy California, and was filed on behalf of his estate.

"Led Zeppelin opened for Spirit when they first came over here," said the attorney in an interview with City News Service. "There's no doubt Jimmy Page appreciated Spirit on an emotional and musical level. And, of course, Led Zeppelin has a unique history of lifting their songs from other sources."

With his last remark, the attorney was referring to a series of settlement agreements Zeppelin made in the 1970s, culminating with co-writer credits being given to external artists for several iconic songs, including "Whole Lotta Love" and "Dazed and Confused."

California's lawyer stressed that, "Attribution is the most important thing," adding that "what we want is for credit to be given where it's due. I'm a fan of Led Zeppelin, but in this situation, we want credit for Randy."

This is the latest development in the case since May, when Warner Music Group argued the case should be moved to L.A., where potential witnesses and involved businesses are based.

If you believe someone is unfairly profiting off of your work without your permission, it's important to contact a skilled business attorney as soon as possible. A lawyer can help protect your rights in case of litigation, and get you just compensation.

Categorised in: Entertainment Law, Intellectual Property Law

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