Led Zeppelin to Face Trial over Copyright Infringement Allegations for 'Stairway to Heaven'
It has been almost 50 years when Led Zeppelin released its most influential single of all – "Stairway to Heaven." And in all those years that the legendary guitar song has been praised and enjoyed cult following, it's not surprise that someone will eventually find something wrong about it. The most famous is the allegation that the song is actually copied from an earlier but less popular track called "Taurus," performed by a band named Spirit, who happens to be a group of guys who shared bills with the legendary band back in the 60s.
Now the issue is this: Is Led Zeppelin, a band who made millions with the popularity of "Stairway," indebted to Spirit in the form of a songwriting credit? That is what some members of the band will face in front of a jury trial on May 10.
A report from the Washington Post quoted one part of U.S. District Judge Gary Klausner's opinion in denying Led Zeppelin's motion for a summary judgment. "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," the judge from the Central District of California said.
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One of the lawyers representing the plaintiff said that the case is merely about pushing for what is right, "giving credit where credit was due," the lawyer said.
Once the trial commences as expected, it will certainly be one of the highest profile cases this year. Accordingly, it may even lead to similar suits in the future. Led Zeppelin is no stranger to these suits since they've been accused several times in the past. In fact, a folk artist, Anne Bredon, and a songwriter, Willie Dixon, both took the band to court and won.
The song "Stairway to Heaven" was recorded sometime between 1970 and 1971.
