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<b><i>Suing Led Zeppelin</b></i> Can a Copyright Infringement Plaintiff Rewrite Rock and Roll History?
In one of the many memorable scenes from the film Wayne's World , Wayne tests guitars in a music store. Laying his hands on a beautiful white Fender Stratocaster ' “Excalibur” he calls it ' Wayne begins to gently pluck a somber, minor-key melody. Suddenly, the store attendant chokes the guitar's neck and points Wayne to a sign on the wall: “NO Stairway to Heaven.” The scene is funny because of the sheer ubiquity of that brooding guitar line. Led Zeppelin's “Stairway to Heaven,” released on the 1971 album Led Zeppelin IV , has been blasted from speakers at countless parties and proms. It has been a mainstay of classic rock radio for decades. And, yes, learning those opening chords to the song has been a rite of passage for many an aspiring guitarist.
Imagine Wayne's disillusionment if he were to learn that Led Zeppelin purloined “Stairway” from another band. That allegation is at the heart of Skidmore v. Led Zeppelin, 2:2014cv03089, a recently filed copyright lawsuit in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania that asserts Led Zeppelin copied the introductory descending guitar figure in “Stairway to Heaven” from a 1968 instrumental by the American progressive rock band Spirit.
This article examines the allegations of that lawsuit, explains why the suit is not stale despite being brought 42 years after the release of “Stairway,” and discusses the challenges that the plaintiff must overcome if he is to prevail in the litigation.
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