By Dina Regine [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
“Whole Lotta Love” Mired in Muddy Water
The case: Willie Dixon v. Led Zeppelin (1985)
The complaint: Plagiarism. Some lyrics of the Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” were lifted from a 1962 Muddy Waters song written by Willie Dixon, “You Need Love.”
The outcome: The case was settled out of court. Led Zeppelin conceded writing credits and royalties to Dixon, openly admitting to incorporating classic blues lyrics into many of their songs, in a method they felt was interpretive. Read more at CKUA radio network.
By aphrodite-in-nyc [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Courtney Love and Alleged Libel
The case: Obsidian Finance Group LLC; Kevin D. Padrick v. Crystal Cox (2014)
The complaint: Defamation. Via angry Tweet, Courtney Love accused her lawyer, Rhonda Holmes, of being “bought off.” Holmes sued for 8 million, claiming the rock star used her celebrity to defame Holmes’ business and reputation to millions.
The outcome: The jury found that Love’s Tweet did not constitute libel because Love did not know the information it contained was false. As the Huffington Post reports, this case is a landmark one, with precedent-setting implications for bloggers and tweeters. Read the HuffPo’s full coverage here.
By Tankfield (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
“One Love” Ain’t for the Birds
The case: Bob Marley’s estate v. Raising Cane’s (2014)
The complaint: Trademark Infringement. Raising Cane’s, a Louisiana-based fast food franchise, has adopted the use of the phrase “One Love” in its marketing, without permission from the estate of the late Bob Marley, whose 1977 song of the same name is one of the most famous and beloved in his catalogue. According to reports by Spin.com, Raising Cane’s has registered the trademark, and the estate has been blocked from registering similar additional trademarks of its own. The lawsuit filed includes counts of trademark infringement and dilution, false association, cancellation of the aforementioned trademark registrations, common law trademark infringement, and intentional interference with advantageous business relations, Spin reports.
The outcome: …is yet to be determined.
In the meantime, it is Valentine’s Day, so, in Bob Marley’s conspicuously attributed words, “let’s get together and feel alright.”
