Stairway to Litigation

DonP

DonP

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The lawyers clearly need to top up their treasure chests. The plagiarism case against Plant and Page over the main riff from Stairway to Heaven is back in court after a judge ruled that the jury had been misdirected by the original trial judge.
 
It's the lawyer for the estate of Randy Wolfe of the band Spirit, who claim that the riff is taken from their song Taurus.


My own feeling is that there is a little similarity at one point but not much. And while the Zep tune goes places, all the Spirit one can do is repeat.
 
repeat Lawsuits from dead people ---what next.

Funny Don the Zep tune TRULY WENT PLACES ---- Spirit/Taurus meh not so much -- never heard of it till the lawsuit came out the first time-

Perhaps I need to sue Randy Wolfes estate--- for mental stress -- loss of income and depression-----

no --- none of those things happened either-- but apparently in this day and time a true wrong does not need done for you to sue---- just make something up---
 
Also I need to sue Les Pauls Estate---for lost income wages and stress----most my life has been spent lusting after and spending $ on HIS CREATION -- and well its ruined me --- ruined me I say......
 
As Don said, the trial judge was found to have mis-intstructed the jury, and the decision was overturned on appeal for a new trial of the same case. Specifically:

"The judge reportedly did not tell jurors the trustee for Mr Wolfe could win if the guitarist had written a "sufficiently original combination" of musical elements. He also should not have told jurors about the "copyrighting of music elements in the public domain", according to a Reuters report on the ruling."

Both of these issues would relate to the 17th century arrangement issue DonP mentioned.

If a person is litigating to redress a wrong, their rights do not, and should not, terminate upon their death. If you were suing because you were ripped-off and then died during the course of litigation, would you want the $$ to go to your children, or stay with the person who ripped you off?

In my opinion, Led Zeppelin rampantly plagiarized

Led Zeppelin’s 10 Boldest Rip-Offs – Rolling Stone
 
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I can see where Zep may have been inspired by that song, but no way is it a rip off. Wanna talk about ripping off? How many people have based their songs on 12 bar blues?
 
Most plagiarism cases are settled, not by proving that copying didn't happen, but by showing that there is an older, out-of-copyright tune that is also similar. That should happen in this case.
 
Spirit are still under copywrite laws?? isnt the guy who wrote it dead...at least 2 other original members I think are dead--.the band dismembered--- the horse they are beating has dry rotted and blown away--- they were for all accounts a 1 hit wonder ---

I mean "I got a line on you babe"......while catchy---- is no great shakes.......
 
BlackSG91 said:
The remaining members of Led Zeppelin have loads of money so if they lose in court I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.


;>)/
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While that’s reassuring in a way, it goes deeper than that.

The point is really about how much duplication can exist in a piece before being considered plagiarism. This has impacts far beyond Led Zeppelin and any potential monetary loss for them.

While I do not defend outright plagiarism at all, it is still true that there are recognized musical conventions, such as a chromatic, descending bass line, that are common to all forms of music. In addition, it is a simple fact that there are only twelve notes in a scale. Some overlap is inevitable.

The outcome of this lawsuit may have the potential to impact other artists, as well.
 
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Zepps attorneys need to take this video--- or RICK to the courthouse----


Lawsuit is nothing more than lawyers and the "estate" of whats his name-- which I cant IMAGINE being much if anything --- trying to get a fat payday---

the hope is (Im sure) that Plant and Page and Jones will just say -- FINE here is 10 million now PISS OFF and never darken our doors again--- and the roaches and vultures will pick that clean and come back in 10 more years for more.....
 
smitty_p said:
While that’s reassuring in a way, it goes deeper than that.

The point is really about how much duplication can exist in a piece before being considered plagiarism. This has impacts far beyond Led Zeppelin and any potential monetary loss for them.

While I do not defend outright plagiarism at all, it is still true that there are recognized musical conventions, such as a chromatic, descending bass line, that are common to all forms of music. In addition, it is a simple fact that there are only twelve notes in a scale. Some overlap is inevitable.

The outcome of this lawsuit may have the potential to impact other artists, as well.
Click to expand...

Well I guess these days it's harder to write an original song without it sounding like another song especially one that you haven't heard before. And another example are rap artists who take samples of other songs and use it in their own tune which I consider plagiarism unless the original artist gave approval or gets royalties. I noticed that these days most modern bands almost sound the same compared to the old days like the 1960's/70's where each band had their own unique song writing style. I think that has been lost now.


;>)/
 
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