The legendary English rock band, Led Zeppelin, has won a major copyright infringement lawsuit. The lawsuit alleged that the opening instrumental in “Stairway to Heaven” was stolen from Spirit’s 1968 song titled, “Taurus.” The allegations began in 2014 when Michael Skidmore, trustee for the estate of the deceased Spirit guitarist Randy California, filed the case. […]
The post Led Zeppelin Wins Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Over ‘Stairway To Heaven’ appeared first on uInterview.
The post Led Zeppelin Wins Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Over ‘Stairway To Heaven’ appeared first on uInterview.
- 3/10/2020
- by Paloma Thoen
- Uinterview
Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” will soon add a new chapter to its complicated legal history. An 11-judge panel from the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided Monday to review its decision on whether the band plagiarized the song’s opening guitar riff from Spirit’s 1968 track “Taurus,” Reuters reports.
Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant and guitarist Jimmy Page were accused of copyright infringement over their iconic 1971 epic. But in June 2016, a Los Angeles jury ruled that “Stairway to Heaven” were not guilty of infringing on “Taurus,...
Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant and guitarist Jimmy Page were accused of copyright infringement over their iconic 1971 epic. But in June 2016, a Los Angeles jury ruled that “Stairway to Heaven” were not guilty of infringing on “Taurus,...
- 6/11/2019
- by Ryan Reed
- Rollingstone.com
Led Zeppelin will go back to court for a retrial more than two years after winning a suit that alleged the band plagiarized “Stairway to Heaven.” San Francisco’s 9th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the jury’s verdict Friday, according to NBC News. Parts of the jury instructions were erroneous and prejudicial, the court panel said.
The suit was brought on by Michael Skidmore, trustee of late Spirit guitarist Randy Wolfe, who recorded under the name Randy California. Skidmore alleged that Zeppelin leaned heavily on “Taurus,” a 38-second-long 1968 Spirit instrumental,...
The suit was brought on by Michael Skidmore, trustee of late Spirit guitarist Randy Wolfe, who recorded under the name Randy California. Skidmore alleged that Zeppelin leaned heavily on “Taurus,” a 38-second-long 1968 Spirit instrumental,...
- 9/28/2018
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
A copyright battle over Led Zeppelin's iconic song "Stairway to Heaven" is back on after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday partially vacated the trial court's judgment in favor of the band and remanded the case for a new trial.
The lawsuit was brought by Michael Skidmore, the Trustee for deceased songwriter Randy Wolfe (best known as Randy California), who composed Spirit's "Taurus" in the late 1960s. The complaint — 43 years in the making after much discussion in the musical community over whether "Stairway to Heaven" plagiarized "Taurus" —...
The lawsuit was brought by Michael Skidmore, the Trustee for deceased songwriter Randy Wolfe (best known as Randy California), who composed Spirit's "Taurus" in the late 1960s. The complaint — 43 years in the making after much discussion in the musical community over whether "Stairway to Heaven" plagiarized "Taurus" —...
- 9/28/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
The courtroom did echo with victory for Led Zeppelin on Thursday, as a jury of eight people determined that the group did not rip off the 1968 Spirit song “Taurus” with its signature 1971 anthem “Stairway to Heaven.” The verdict brought to an end a two-year legal saga that began in 2014, when Michael Skidmore — trustee of the Randy Craig Wolfe Trust — filed suit, claiming that “Stairway” infringed on “Taurus,” which was written by Spirit frontman Wolfe, who performed under the name Randy California. The jury found that, while Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page and vocalist Robert Plant did have...
- 6/23/2016
- by Tim Kenneally and Pamela Chelin
- The Wrap
Led Zeppelin is seeking an expressway to victory in its “Stairway to Heaven” trial. Lawyers for the group, which is accused of ripping off another song in writing its 1971 classic “Stairway to Heaven,” have asked judge R. Gary Klausner to rule in their favor, claiming the plaintiff, who rested on Friday, failed to make his case. The group is being sued by Michael Skidmore, trustee of the Randy Craig Wolfe Trust. Skidmore asserts that “Stairway” infringes on the 1968 Spirit song “Taurus,” written by Spirit frontman Wolfe (stage name: Randy California). Also Read: John Paul Jones Testifies at Led Zeppelin Trial: 5 Standout.
- 6/20/2016
- by Tim Kenneally and Pamela Chelin
- The Wrap
Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page wrapped up his testimony at the copyright infringement trial over his 1971 classic “Stairway to Heaven” on Thursday, telling the court that he never met the man whose song he’s accused of ripping off. Page is accused of lifting from the 1968 Spirit song “Taurus” while writing “Stairway.” A lawsuit filed by Michael Skidmore, the trustee of the Randy Craig Wolfe Trust, dubbed after the real name of Spirit frontman Randy California, notes that Spirit and Zeppelin played a number of shows together before the release of “Stairway.” But during Thursday’s testimony, Page said that he.
- 6/16/2016
- by Tim Kenneally and Pamela Chelin
- The Wrap
Legendary Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page took the stand in a Los Angeles courthouse in a trial to determine whether he ripped off the 1968 Spirit song “Taurus” while writing “Stairway to Heaven.” Michael Skidmore, the trustee of the Randy Craig Wolfe Trust, dubbed after the real name of Spirit frontman Randy California, filed suit in 2014. His suit notes that Spirit and Zeppelin played a number of shows together before the 1971 release of “Stairway.” Wearing a black suit, blue tie and white shirt, Page weighed in on an array of topics including his impressive guitar skills and lack of...
- 6/16/2016
- by Tim Kenneally and Pamela Chelin
- The Wrap
The lawyers for Led Zeppelin are taking a page from the Marvin Gaye songbook and asking a court, “Can we get a witness?” The copyright infringement case revolving around Led Zeppelin’s iconic tune “Stairway to Heaven” took a heated turn on Monday, when the group’s attorneys filed papers claiming that the opposing side is improperly trying to block them from deposing the plaintiff’s music experts. Led Zeppelin is being sued by Michael Skidmore, the trustee for Spirit frontman Randy Craig Wolfe — a.k.a. Randy California, who died in 1997 — for copyright infringement. Skidmore contends that “Stairway” infringes on the Spirit.
- 5/10/2016
- by Tim Kenneally
- The Wrap
Those who have listened to Spirit's "Taurus" and hear similarity to the opening guitar riff in "Stairway to Heaven" might expect Led Zeppelin to be in trouble at a copyright trial scheduled for May 10. However, don't bet against Led Zeppelin just yet. On Monday, the defendants scored some key victories that will severely limit the testimony and evidence heard by a jury. Perhaps most important, U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner has decided to exclude many of the "Taurus" sound recordings that the Randy Craig Wolfe Trust (which counts itself as a beneficial owner of Spirit member Randy California's
read more...
read more...
- 4/26/2016
- by Eriq Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant and Jimmy Page are about to climb the stairway to the Los Angeles courthouse. On Friday, U.S. district judge Gary Klausner ruled that while there is no evidence of a "striking similarity," Led Zeppelin's classic "Stairway to Heaven, bears enough resemblance to "Taurus" by Californian rock band Spirit for a jury to decide on a possible breach of copyright. The L.A. court must now rule whether the British rockers ripped off the opening tabs of "Taurus" for their most famous song, which Judge Klausner called "arguably the most recognizable and important segments" of the two tunes.
- 4/13/2016
- by Philip Boucher and Peter Mikelbank with Alex Heigl
- PEOPLE.com
Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant and Jimmy Page are about to climb the stairway to the Los Angeles courthouse. On Friday, U.S. district judge Gary Klausner ruled that while there is no evidence of a "striking similarity," Led Zeppelin's classic "Stairway to Heaven, bears enough resemblance to "Taurus" by Californian rock band Spirit for a jury to decide on a possible breach of copyright. The L.A. court must now rule whether the British rockers ripped off the opening tabs of "Taurus" for their most famous song, which Judge Klausner called "arguably the most recognizable and important segments" of the two tunes.
- 4/13/2016
- by Philip Boucher and Peter Mikelbank with Alex Heigl
- PEOPLE.com
Led Zeppelin has hit a bum note in the lawsuit over its mega-hit “Stairway to Heaven.” The group has lost a bid to obtain further information in a copyright infringement lawsuit claiming that “Stairway” infringes on the Spirit song “Taurus.” Attorneys for the band had sought information on the Randy Craig Wolfe trust, of which plaintiff Michael Skidmore serves as trustee. (Randy Craig Wolfe was the given name of Randy California, a founding member of Spirit and author of “Taurus.” Wolfe died in 1997.) Also Read: Led Zeppelin Accused of 'Pure Fishing Expedition' in 'Stairway to Heaven' Lawsuit Team Zep had claimed that.
- 2/2/2016
- by Tim Kenneally
- The Wrap
Well, this could change everything. Legendary rock band Led Zeppelin is being sued by another band named Spirit for plagiarism after allegedly lifting their famous hit "Stairway to Heaven," according to reports. Spirit claims the opening notes in the Zeppelin track are extremely similar to their 1968 song "Taurus," and want to block the re-release of "Stairway to Heaven" on the band's remastered deluxe versions of their original albums, claiming that Spirit's late guitarist Randy California (born Randy Wolfe) should be given a writing credit. "It's been a long time coming," attorney Francis Alexander Malofiy said in Bloomberg Businessweek. Malofiy is representing a...
- 5/20/2014
- E! Online
It's a riff you've likely heard hundreds of times. And it might not even belong to the band most associated with it. Led Zeppelin are in court (again) for allegedly plagiarizing their best-known work, "Stairway to Heaven," from a little-known band called Spirit. "It's been a long time coming," attorney Francis Alexander Malofiy told Bloomberg Businessweek. Indeed: Videos showing the suspicious similarity between the introductory riff of "Stairway" and a passage from Spirit's instrumental "Taurus" have persisted for years on YouTube. Zeppelin also toured with Spirit in 1968, the year the group released "Taurus" and two years before Page claims to have written "Stairway.
- 5/20/2014
- by Alex Heigl
- PEOPLE.com
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.