Led Zeppelin rocks copyright case over ‘Stairway’

Members of the jury were not legally allowed to hear the original recordings of Stairway to Heaven or Taurus when determining their verdict in the case.

A Los Angeles jury has decided the band Led Zeppelin did not steal the opening to its classic anthem “Stairway to Heaven”.

The two-week trial saw Page, Plant and non-defendant John Paul Jones take the stand to deny exposure to “Taurus” while explaining the creation of “Stairway” at Headley Grange. If it has something to do with the composition vs. the actual performance of the composition, OK, but if you’re claiming that Zep stole the music based on having heard it, why not let the jury hear what you think they heard?

Jurors found the trust had cleared a few hurdles, including that Page and Plant had “access” to “Taurus”, meaning they would have been familiar with it.

The United States District Court for the Central District of California has now released paperwork memorializing a lopsided decision in favor of Led Zeppelin.

The plaintiff’s lawyer, Mr Francis Malofiy, said an appeal was being considered.

JANET WOLFE: All we and our brother Randy ever wanted was acknowledgment that he was a true author of the intro to “Stairway to Heaven”.

Led Zeppelin opened for Spirit when the hard rockers – Plant, Page, John Paul Jones and the late John Bonham – made their U.S. debut on December 26, 1968 in Denver.

Jurors found the plaintiff owned the copyright to Taurus, and Led Zeppelin members had heard the song, but there was no substantial similarity between the songs, THR, Esq. reports. At the time, Wolfe was performing under the pseudonym Randy California.

Peter Anderson, Led Zeppelin’s attorney, said the case was really an attempt to rewrite history – “to take an iconic song … and [say] it’s got a new parent”.

BARNEY PORTER: Plant and Page released a statement after the verdict was handed down. A Supreme Court ruling in 2014 over the movie “Raging Bull” opened the door to bring a copyright case at any time with damages only dating back three years and continuing into the future. When asked by his attorney if he remembered what that lyric was, Plant recited what has become the well known opening line to the hit song, “There’s a lady who knows all that glitters is gold and she’s buying a stairway to heaven”.