Taylor Swift to face trial over claim she ripped off 'Shake It Off' lyrics
Taylor Swift wasn't able to shake off a claim she ripped off lyrics for one of her most popular songs, at least not before it heads to a trial.
A judge has declined to dismiss a copyright case against Swift over her hit 2014 song "Shake It Off," BBC News reports. Songwriters Sean Hall and Nathan Butler have claimed Swift copied their 3LW song "Playas Gon' Play," which like "Shake it Off" includes versions of the phrases "players gonna play" and "haters gonna hate."
District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald previously ruled these lyrics are "too brief, unoriginal, and uncreative to warrant protection under the Copyright Act," pointing to numerous other songs that included similar language. But an appeals court reversed this ruling, while Swift sought a summary judgment to end the case. The judge has now denied Swift's request, ruling that "even though there are some noticeable differences between the works, there are also significant similarities in word usage and sequence/structure," and the court can't "presently determine that no reasonable juror could find substantial similarity of lyrical phrasing, word arrangement, or poetic structure between the two works," per The Guardian.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Hall previously said this case was "giving voice to all of those creatives who can't afford to stand up and protect their work in the face of well-financed Goliaths," while a representative for Swift said Hall and Butler "did not invent these common phrases nor are they the first to use them in a song," adding, "Their claim is not a crusade for all creatives, it is a crusade for Mr. Hall's bank account."
Swift previously faced a separate claim she stole the "Shake It Off" lyrics from Jessie Braham's song "Haters Gonna Hate," but a judge dismissed that case in 2015, writing, "We have got problems, and the court is not sure Braham can solve them."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
'Elevating Earth Day into a national holiday is not radical — it's practical'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
UAW scores historic win in South at VW plant
Speed Read Volkswagen workers in Tennessee have voted to join the United Auto Workers union
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 22, 2024
Cartoons Monday's cartoons - dystopian laughs, WNBA salaries, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift's surprise double album: an event of 'world-shaking proportions'
Why Everyone's Talking About Fans are 'reeling' after The Tortured Poets Department is followed by The Anthology – 15 additional tracks
By Julia O'Driscoll, The Week UK Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Why Chechnya has banned music that is 'too fast or too slow'
Under The Radar Many Western pop songs – and Russian national anthem – fall foul of new rules to protect 'cultural heritage'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Could Taylor Swift swing the election?
Today's Big Question The pop star has outsized influence — and that extends beyond the music industry
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published