Judge orders copyright trial over opening notes of Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven'

SmashMouth · 04-12-2016, 08:46 AM

A trial is needed to determine if Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" copies its opening notes from a song performed by the rock band Spirit, a federal judge has ruled.

U.S District Judge R. Gary Klausner ruled Friday that lawyers for the trustee of late Spirit guitarist Randy Wolfe had shown enough evidence to support a case that "Stairway to Heaven" copies music from the Spirit song "Taurus."

"Taurus" was written by Wolfe in either 1966 or 1967, years before Led Zeppelin released "Stairway to Heaven" in 1971. Klausner wrote that while the songs have some differences, lawyers for Wolfe's trustee may be able to prove they are substantially similar.

Led Zeppelin and Spirit performed at some concerts and festivals around the same time, but not on the same stage. Klausner wrote that the evidence presented so far represented a circumstantial case that Led Zeppelin may have heard "Taurus" performed before "Stairway to Heaven" was created.

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SmashMouth · 04-12-2016, 08:53 AM

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WhoDat!656 · 04-12-2016, 12:17 PM

I say they have a case!

QBREES9 · 04-12-2016, 09:42 PM

Yes they do. So who is Spirit?

44Champs · 04-13-2016, 05:09 AM

Seems kind of late in the game to be pursuing retribution. So what's next - the guy who wrote twinkle twinkle little star is gonna sue the guy who wrote the abc song lol

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WhoDat!656 · 04-13-2016, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by 44Champs

Seems kind of late in the game to be pursuing retribution. So what's next - the guy who wrote twinkle twinkle little star is gonna sue the guy who wrote the abc song lol

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

All they can sue for is future earnings.

QBREES9 · 04-13-2016, 01:18 PM

(All they can sue for is future earnings.)

I guess they missed the boat then.

SmashMouth · 04-13-2016, 11:45 PM

The reason why below...

Francis Alexander Malofiy, attorney for Wolfe's trustee Michael Skidmore, praised the ruling. He said while many copyright cases are an uphill battle, Klausner's ruling brings his client one step closer to getting Wolfe credit for helping create one of the most recognizable song introductions in rock history.

Skidmore was able to overcome statute-of-limitations hurdles to sue over "Stairway to Heaven" because the song was remastered and re-released in 2014.

Danno · 04-16-2016, 02:21 PM

Every rock band is influenced by other artists.

Elvis and the Stones could be sued by numerous black musicians from the 40's and 50's if you wanna get downright technical.

Just because they're similar doesn't mean they're the same.

90% of all bands today could be sued for sounding like other bands before them.

Coldplay would be bankrupt if U2 decided to sue.

SmashMouth · 04-16-2016, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by Danno

Every rock band is influenced by other artists.

Elvis and the Stones could be sued by numerous black musicians from the 40's and 50's if you wanna get downright technical.

Just because they're similar doesn't mean they're the same.

90% of all bands today could be sued for sounding like other bands before them.

Coldplay would be bankrupt if U2 decided to sue.

Could you please provide us with an example of a piece Coldplay stole?

04-12-2016, 08:46 AM	#1
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 36,958 Blog Entries: 29	Judge orders copyright trial over opening notes of Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' A trial is needed to determine if Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" copies its opening notes from a song performed by the rock band Spirit, a federal judge has ruled. U.S District Judge R. Gary Klausner ruled Friday that lawyers for the trustee of late Spirit guitarist Randy Wolfe had shown enough evidence to support a case that "Stairway to Heaven" copies music from the Spirit song "Taurus." "Taurus" was written by Wolfe in either 1966 or 1967, years before Led Zeppelin released "Stairway to Heaven" in 1971. Klausner wrote that while the songs have some differences, lawyers for Wolfe's trustee may be able to prove they are substantially similar. Led Zeppelin and Spirit performed at some concerts and festivals around the same time, but not on the same stage. Klausner wrote that the evidence presented so far represented a circumstantial case that Led Zeppelin may have heard "Taurus" performed before "Stairway to Heaven" was created. read more

04-12-2016, 12:17 PM	#3
WhoDat!656 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Shreveport,Louisiana Posts: 16,001	Re: Judge orders copyright trial over opening notes of Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' I say they have a case! SmashMouth likes this.

04-12-2016, 09:42 PM	#4
QBREES9 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Haven Ct Posts: 23,982	Re: Judge orders copyright trial over opening notes of Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' Yes they do. So who is Spirit?

04-13-2016, 05:09 AM	#5
44Champs Site Donor Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,589	Re: Judge orders copyright trial over opening notes of Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' Seems kind of late in the game to be pursuing retribution. So what's next - the guy who wrote twinkle twinkle little star is gonna sue the guy who wrote the abc song lol Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk neugey likes this.
44Champs Site Donor Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,589

04-13-2016, 12:35 PM	#6
WhoDat!656 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Shreveport,Louisiana Posts: 16,001	Re: Judge orders copyright trial over opening notes of Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' Originally Posted by 44Champs Seems kind of late in the game to be pursuing retribution. So what's next - the guy who wrote twinkle twinkle little star is gonna sue the guy who wrote the abc song lol Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk All they can sue for is future earnings.

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04-13-2016, 01:18 PM	#7
QBREES9 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Haven Ct Posts: 23,982	Re: Judge orders copyright trial over opening notes of Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' (All they can sue for is future earnings.) I guess they missed the boat then.

04-13-2016, 11:45 PM	#8
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 36,958 Blog Entries: 29	Re: Judge orders copyright trial over opening notes of Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' The reason why below... Francis Alexander Malofiy, attorney for Wolfe's trustee Michael Skidmore, praised the ruling. He said while many copyright cases are an uphill battle, Klausner's ruling brings his client one step closer to getting Wolfe credit for helping create one of the most recognizable song introductions in rock history. Skidmore was able to overcome statute-of-limitations hurdles to sue over "Stairway to Heaven" because the song was remastered and re-released in 2014.

04-16-2016, 02:21 PM	#9
Danno Site Donor 2014 Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,640	Re: Judge orders copyright trial over opening notes of Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' Every rock band is influenced by other artists. Elvis and the Stones could be sued by numerous black musicians from the 40's and 50's if you wanna get downright technical. Just because they're similar doesn't mean they're the same. 90% of all bands today could be sued for sounding like other bands before them. Coldplay would be bankrupt if U2 decided to sue.

04-16-2016, 04:23 PM	#10
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 36,958 Blog Entries: 29	Re: Judge orders copyright trial over opening notes of Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' Originally Posted by Danno Every rock band is influenced by other artists. Elvis and the Stones could be sued by numerous black musicians from the 40's and 50's if you wanna get downright technical. Just because they're similar doesn't mean they're the same. 90% of all bands today could be sued for sounding like other bands before them. Coldplay would be bankrupt if U2 decided to sue. Could you please provide us with an example of a piece Coldplay stole?