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#Post#: 28684--------------------------------------------------
Copyright infringement suit filed against Led Zeppelin for
'Stairway to Heaven'
DIR By: Mac
Date: June 3, 2014, 12:19 pm
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This has been floating around for the last few weeks. Can't
believe it's actually became a suit.
Listen to them both. They sound alike. But the notes and
structure are very different.
HTML https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Sdbg2is2zQ
[glow=red,2,300]Copyright infringement suit filed against Led
Zeppelin for 'Stairway to Heaven'[/glow]
--- Quote ---
> (CNN) -- A lawsuit has been filed claiming that the iconic Led
Zeppelin song "Stairway to Heaven" was far from original.
>
> The suit, filed on May 31 in the United States District Court
Eastern District of Pennsylvania, was brought by the estate of
the late musician Randy California against the surviving members
of Led Zeppelin and their record label. The copyright
infringement case alleges that the Zeppelin song was taken from
the single "Taurus" by the 1960s band Spirit, for whom
California served as lead guitarist.
> Atty.: Randy California deserves credit
>
> "Late in 1968, a then new band named Led Zeppelin began
touring in the United States, opening for Spirit," the suit
states. "It was during this time that Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin's
guitarist, grew familiar with 'Taurus' and the rest of Spirit's
catalog. Page stated in interviews that he found Spirit to be
'very good' and that the band's performances struck him 'on an
emotional level.' "
>
> One of the causes of action for the suit is listed as
"Falsification of Rock N' Roll History" and the typeface in the
section headings of the filing resembles that used for Led
Zeppelin album covers. According to claims in the suit, "Parts
of 'Stairway to Heaven,' instantly recognizable to the music
fans across the world, sound almost identical to significant
portions of 'Taurus.' "
>
> The estate is seeking court ordered damages and writing credit
for California, born Randy Craig Wolfe. Part of the defense
includes a printed interview conducted with California prior to
his death from drowning in 1997. In the 1997 interview with
Listener Magazine, the guitarist claims that some of the music
from "Stairway to Heaven" was taken from his group's song.
>
> "Well, if you listen to the two songs, you can make your own
judgment," the lawsuit quotes the interview as saying. "It's an
exact ... I'd say it was a rip-off. And the guys made millions
of bucks on it and never said, 'Thank you,' never said, 'Can we
pay you some money for it?' It's kind of a sore point with me."
>
> In a May interview with France's Liberation newspaper, Page
said of the claims "That's ridiculous. I have no further comment
on the subject."
>
> The attorney representing California's trust, Francis Malofiy,
told CNN before the suit was filed that Zeppelin's guitarist
Page "looked to Randy California and Spirit as someone who
inspired him." The attorney also explained why it took so many
years for a suit to be filed.
>
> "Justice is available to those who can afford it," Malofiy
said, "It's very very hard for a musician who's struggling just
to keep a roof over his head ... to actually go about and fight
some of the biggest giants in the music and entertainment
industry."
>
> One of the plaintiffs of the case, Warner Music Group, is
owned by the parent company of CNN. Led Zeppelin reissued their
first three albums as both a single remastered album and deluxe
editions on Tuesday.
--- End Quote ---
#Post#: 28687--------------------------------------------------
Re: Copyright infringement suit filed against Led Zeppelin for
'Stairway to Heaven'
DIR By: Chiprocks1
Date: June 3, 2014, 12:23 pm
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Yeah, I've been following this for awhile.
#Post#: 28690--------------------------------------------------
Re: Copyright infringement suit filed against Led Zeppelin for
'Stairway to Heaven'
DIR By: Chiprocks1
Date: June 3, 2014, 12:26 pm
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[center]Top 10 Rip-off Songs
HTML https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GWMvCXdsG4
I watched this a week or so ago. Fascinating to hear both sides
of the songs that made the list.
#Post#: 28694--------------------------------------------------
Re: Copyright infringement suit filed against Led Zeppelin for
'Stairway to Heaven'
DIR By: Mac
Date: June 3, 2014, 12:49 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
They forgot one of the biggie's with Vanilla Ice and Queen...
Except for the Beach Boys/Chuck Berry claim (and maybe, just
maybe the Satriani/Coldplay claim), all those other suits are
ridiculous.
Yes, a cursory listen, they 'sound' very much like each other in
certain cases. But take a very close listen and they are not the
same. Sampling is different, that's not what is being discussed,
but we are talking song writing.
I remember many of those claims over the years. I really didn't
pay much attention. I still put zero stock in the discussions
and claims.
#Post#: 28697--------------------------------------------------
Re: Copyright infringement suit filed against Led Zeppelin for
'Stairway to Heaven'
DIR By: Chiprocks1
Date: June 3, 2014, 12:54 pm
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--- Quote from: Mac link ---
>
> They forgot one of the biggie's with Vanilla Ice and Queen...
>
--- End Quote ---
They had a disclaimer at the beginning of the video that all
Sampled/Copyright suits were not included in this Top 10 List.
#Post#: 28698--------------------------------------------------
Re: Copyright infringement suit filed against Led Zeppelin for
'Stairway to Heaven'
DIR By: Mac
Date: June 3, 2014, 12:55 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Don't understand. ???
What were the suits they listed? Weren't they copyright?
#Post#: 28701--------------------------------------------------
Re: Copyright infringement suit filed against Led Zeppelin for
'Stairway to Heaven'
DIR By: Chiprocks1
Date: June 3, 2014, 12:59 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Mac link ---
>
> Don't understand. ???
>
> What were the suits they listed? Weren't they copyright?
>
--- End Quote ---
Sampled songs are a clear violation of copyright issues if they
didn't get permission prior to releasing the song. The Top 10
List has to do with taking "inspiration" of a song, knowingly or
not and creating a song that they thought was "original" enough,
only to have the defendant claim copyright infringement. The
first party says "hey, you ripped me off!" The second party says
"Naw uh!", and that heads to the courts to decide.
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