Led Zeppelin cleared in 'Stairway to Heaven' copyright case

A jury has decided that Led Zeppelin did not steal "Stairway to Heaven."
(Image credit: Danny Martindale/Getty Images)

Led Zeppelin is not guilty of copyright infringement in the opening of its legendary song "Stairway to Heaven," a Los Angeles jury has decided. The band had been accused of stealing the song's introductory riffs from the band Spirit's "Taurus" in a lawsuit brought by the trust for Randy Wolf, the late writer of "Taurus."

During the trial, Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, and bassist John Paul Jones all testified and recounted how they'd come up with "Stairway to Heaven" back in 1971. Though some experts contended that the two songs had "striking similarities," others said the songs just had a "common musical building block," The Associated Press reports.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up
Latest Videos FromThe Week
Explore More