Musicians Who Are Accused Of Plagiarism

1 / 10

Sam Smith

Sam Smith and Tom Petty's Amicable Resolution:Sam Smith's 'Stay with Me' drew comparisons to Tom Petty's 'I Won't Back Down.' Petty, recognizing it as subconscious plagiarism, reached an understanding without going to trial. The incident demonstrated a harmonious resolution in the face of unintentional similarity.

2 / 10

Vanilla Ice

Vanilla Ice and the Ice Ice Baby Controversy:Vanilla Ice's infamous 'Ice Ice Baby' faced scrutiny for its resemblance to Queen and Bowie's 'Under Pressure.' The dispute ended with an undisclosed settlement, and Vanilla Ice's claim of paying $4 million for the publishing rights adds a layer of intrigue.

3 / 10

Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey's Battle with Radiohead:Lana Del Rey faced a challenge when Radiohead demanded publishing rights for her song 'Get Free,' citing similarities to 'Creep.' The dispute, rumored to involve a 100% claim, ended without a disclosed settlement, leaving the curious incident shrouded in mystery.

4 / 10

Robin Thicke

Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams, and Marvin Gaye's Legacy:Robin Thicke's collaboration faced scrutiny from Marvin Gaye's family, who claimed similarities to 'Got To Give It Up.' The legal battle raised questions about the definition of musical composition, culminating in a jury awarding damages of nearly £5 million.

5 / 10

Radiohead

Radiohead's 'Creep' Redux:Radiohead's 'Creep' returned to the legal spotlight when The Hollies claimed resemblance to their song 'The Air That I Breathe.' Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood are now credited on 'Creep.'

6 / 10

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love:Led Zeppelin faced allegations from Willie Dixon, asserting that 'Whole Lotta Love' mirrored his 'You Need Love.' The dispute led to an out-of-court settlement, a familiar resolution in the music industry's history of legal clashes.

7 / 10

The Rolling Stones

The Verve's Bitter Sweet Symphony:The Verve's legal tussle over 'Bitter Sweet Symphony' unfolded as two Stones managers claimed unauthorized use of a Rolling Stones song's orchestral arrangement. A rollercoaster of lawsuits and royalty claims eventually led to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards returning the song's publishing rights to The Verve in 2019.

8 / 10

Nirvana

Nirvana's 'Come As You Are' vs. Killing Joke:Killing Joke contemplated legal action, alleging similarities between Nirvana's 'Come As You Are' and their own track 'Eighties.' Despite threats of a lawsuit, the matter dissipated after Kurt Cobain's death.

9 / 10

Coldplay

Coldplay vs. Joe Satriani:Coldplay's 'Viva La Vida' found itself in the midst of controversy when Joe Satriani claimed it echoed his 'If I Could Fly.' The parties chose an undisclosed settlement in 2009, setting the stage for a series of similar battles in the music industry.

10 / 10

Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash's 'Folsom Prison Blues': The iconic Johnny Cash faced a lawsuit from Gordon Jenkins, accusing Cash of lifting the melody and lyrics from 'Crescent City Blues' for his classic 'Folsom Prison Blues.' A settlement was reached in the 1970s, with Cash paying Jenkins $75,000.

Music copyright is a labyrinthine realm, especially when it involves accusations of plagiarism. From sampling complexities to legal battles over melodies, the music industry has witnessed landmark cases that explore the blurry line between inspiration and outright theft.

Navigating the Murky Waters of Musical Similarity

Some artists opt for out-of-court settlements, choosing to settle disputes without the glare of the courtroom. In this gallery, we delve into instances where music stars faced allegations of plagiarism, unraveling the intricate tales of creativity, influence, and legal entanglements.