Even though a Los Angeles jury ruled in 2016 that Led Zeppelin did not plagiarize a piece of another song to create “Stairway To Heaven,” it seems the matter is still not settled.
Last fall, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously agreed to rehear the case, claiming that the original trial judge committed errors.
On Monday, an 11-judge panel said it will review that second ruling, looking at whether sound should be factored in a copyright decision, rather than
just the sheet music.
Back in 2014, the estate for guitarist Randy Wolfe claimed that Zep ripped off the opening to Spirit’s song “Taurus” when writing the 1971 classic rock epic.
Listen at about :48 into the video of “Taurus”
“Stairway to Heaven”
Do you hear any similarities between the two songs? How would you rule if on this jury?