Variety is reporting that the plagiarism lawsuit Led Zeppelin have faced over “Stairway to Heaven” is headed to a new trial after an appeal.
An appeals court on Friday vacated the jury verdict in the “Stairway to Heaven” copyright infringement case and ordered a new trial, finding that the district court judge gave faulty jury instructions.
The ruling reopens the battle over whether Led Zeppelin borrowed from the 1968 song “Taurus” when it composed the classic rock anthem that appears on the 1971 release “Led Zeppelin IV.”
Michael Skidmore, the trustee of the Randy Craig Wolfe Trust, sued the band in 2014, arguing that “Stairway to Heaven” ripped off elements of Wolfe’s composition. Wolfe, Spirit’s frontman, died in 1997. A jury ruled in favor of Led Zeppelin in 2016, finding that the two songs were not substantially similar.
Skidmore appealed, and on Friday a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ordered a new trial.
Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan is not happy at all about seeing his rock heroes continue to deal with this lawsuit.
He wrote on Instagram, “DUMBEST THING EVER. Or, at least close to it #IStandWithZep.”
Corgan also recently announced a solo show in Milan set to take place on October 17th with Jeff Schroeder and Katie Cole.
He also recently posted, “Secret project in progress @smashingpumpkins #wpc.”
