Michael Skidmore, representing the estate of Randy California, filed a lawsuit against Led Zeppelin in 2014.
The case alleged that Led Zeppelin had plagiarized the instrumental track “Taurus,” composed by Randy California and performed by the band Spirit. Skidmore contended that Led Zeppelin’s iconic 1971 song “Stairway to Heaven” had borrowed elements from “Taurus” without credit or permission.
The lawsuit argued that there were substantial similarities between the two compositions, particularly in the opening guitar passages. Skidmore sought damages and credit for California’s contributions.
The case was closely watched by the music industry due to its implications for copyright and intellectual property.
In 2016, a jury ruled in favor of Led Zeppelin, finding that there was insufficient evidence to prove that the band had copied “Taurus.”
The court determined that the similarities were not substantial enough to constitute copyright infringement.
The ruling was a significant moment in legal discussions surrounding musical plagiarism and copyright law.
Randy California passed away in 1997, but his estate persisted in wanting credit and payments from Led Zeppelin. In 2014, Michael Skidmore, acting on behalf of Randy California’s estate, sued Led Zeppelin for allegedly stealing “Taurus.”
In their trademark song copyright dispute, “Stairway to Heaven,” Led Zeppelin has prevailed. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a long-standing copyright precedent on Monday by upholding a 2016 ruling that “Stairway” did not infringe on Spirit’s 1968 instrumental track, “Taurus.”
