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The lawsuit claims Led Zeppelin stole enough of another song that the original writer is entitled to writing credit ... oh, and a ton of money.
Listen to the other song here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFHLO_2_THg
Fast forward to 0:44.
To me 11 seconds do sound very similar, but the piece is 2:39.
The similarities I hear in those 11 seconds:
1. It's also on a guitar that's 6-string and steel string
2. It's also in the key of A minor
3. It has the same descending bass line
4. The guitar picking pattern and rhythm are nearly identical
5. The tempo is the same
6. Most of the chords are the same
Those 11 seconds, however, lack the melody that is higher in pitch.
Personally, I'm surprised a judge ruled this is enough for a trial to proceed, but I don't know the law about these things.
Story: http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-36022876
Led Zeppelin founders Robert Plant and Jimmy Page must face trial in a copyright row over the song Stairway to Heaven, a US court has ruled.
A Los Angeles district judge said there were enough similarities between the song and an instrumental by the band Spirit to let a jury decide.
The trial has been scheduled for 10 May.
Stairway to Heaven, released in 1971, is widely seen as one of the greatest rock compositions of all time.
The copyright infringement action has been brought by Michael Skidmore, a trustee for the late Spirit guitarist Randy Wolfe, who played on the same bill as Led Zeppelin in the 1960s, and claims he should be given a writing credit on the track.
Led Zeppelin guitarist Page and lead singer Plant are reputed to have written Stairway to Heaven in a remote cottage in Wales.
However, Mr Skidmore has suggested the song came about after the band heard Spirit perform the instrumental Taurus while the bands toured together in 1968 and 1969.
US district judge Gary Klausner said a jury could find "substantial" similarity between the first two minutes of Stairway and Taurus.
"While it is true that a descending chromatic four-chord progression is a common convention that abounds in the music industry, the similarities here transcend this core structure," Judge Klausner ruled.
"What remains is a subjective assessment of the 'concept and feel' of two works... a task no more suitable for a judge than for a jury."
He also said the trustee can get only 50% of any damages awarded, citing a 1967 contract Wolfe signed.
Listen to the other song here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFHLO_2_THg
Fast forward to 0:44.
To me 11 seconds do sound very similar, but the piece is 2:39.
The similarities I hear in those 11 seconds:
1. It's also on a guitar that's 6-string and steel string
2. It's also in the key of A minor
3. It has the same descending bass line
4. The guitar picking pattern and rhythm are nearly identical
5. The tempo is the same
6. Most of the chords are the same
Those 11 seconds, however, lack the melody that is higher in pitch.
Personally, I'm surprised a judge ruled this is enough for a trial to proceed, but I don't know the law about these things.
Story: http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-36022876
Led Zeppelin founders Robert Plant and Jimmy Page must face trial in a copyright row over the song Stairway to Heaven, a US court has ruled.
A Los Angeles district judge said there were enough similarities between the song and an instrumental by the band Spirit to let a jury decide.
The trial has been scheduled for 10 May.
Stairway to Heaven, released in 1971, is widely seen as one of the greatest rock compositions of all time.
The copyright infringement action has been brought by Michael Skidmore, a trustee for the late Spirit guitarist Randy Wolfe, who played on the same bill as Led Zeppelin in the 1960s, and claims he should be given a writing credit on the track.
Led Zeppelin guitarist Page and lead singer Plant are reputed to have written Stairway to Heaven in a remote cottage in Wales.
However, Mr Skidmore has suggested the song came about after the band heard Spirit perform the instrumental Taurus while the bands toured together in 1968 and 1969.
US district judge Gary Klausner said a jury could find "substantial" similarity between the first two minutes of Stairway and Taurus.
"While it is true that a descending chromatic four-chord progression is a common convention that abounds in the music industry, the similarities here transcend this core structure," Judge Klausner ruled.
"What remains is a subjective assessment of the 'concept and feel' of two works... a task no more suitable for a judge than for a jury."
He also said the trustee can get only 50% of any damages awarded, citing a 1967 contract Wolfe signed.
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