Led Zeppelin ‘Stairway to Heaven’ Lawsuit Could Reportedly Be Settled for $1
After years of maneuvering and thousands upon thousands of dollars in legal fees, the latest Led Zeppelin plagiarism lawsuit could reportedly be settled for a single dollar.
As previously reported, the suit was filed by former Spirit bassist Mark Andes, who is working in conjunction with the estate of deceased band founder Randy California. Arguing the long-held belief that Zeppelin pilfered a chord progression from the Spirit song "Taurus" for "Stairway to Heaven," Andes is fighting to have a co-writing credit for California inserted into subsequent pressings of Led Zeppelin IV.
But if Bloomberg's sources are correct, the credit is really all Andes is looking for. Lawyers representing the California estate have reportedly offered to settle the case for the ceremonial sum of $1, provided Zeppelin reps agree to amend the "Stairway to Heaven" songwriting split — and, naturally, a share of the royalties going forward.
"It's always been about credit where credit is due," attorney Francis Alexander Malofiy is quoted as saying — and to that point, the Bloomberg report goes on to note that any profits derived from the ruling will go to support the Randy California Project, which works to supply low-income school students with music education.
Whether Zeppelin's attorneys take the offer remains to be seen, but they'll have a little extra time to make the call. MyNewsLA notes that the trial, originally scheduled for May 10, has been pushed back to a June 14 start date. If and when it actually reaches court, the judge presiding over the case has ruled that each side will have no more than 10 hours to present evidence.
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