PHONOGRAPH PIRACY & SONG-STEALING; RIPPING OFF OTHERS’ WORKS

Songs (a/k/a musical compositions) as a form of original and creative expression are protectable using U.S. Copyright Law. Unfortunately, the threat of litigation and damages associated with copyright infringement do not deter everyone.

Over the years, there have been many claims that a later song copied or infringed an earlier musical composition. Some threats turned into lawsuits; others did not. 

You may be interested to learn the identities of some of the songs on the list (with the song name and original group or artist listed first, followed by the allegedly infringing song and group/artist):

• HE’S SO FINE (The Chiffons): My Sweet Lord, George Harrison
• GOT TO GIVE IT UP (Marvin Gaye): Blurred Lines, Robin Thicke
• RUN THROUGH THE JUNGLE (CCR [Credence Clearwater Revival): The Old Man Down the Road, John Fogarty
• SWEET LITTLE SIXTEEN (Chuck Berry): Surfin’ U.S.A., The Beach Boys
• BRING IT ON HOME (Willie Dixon): Bring it on Home, Led Zeppelin
• YOU NEED LOVE (Willie Dixon): Whole Lotta Love, Led Zeppelin
• GHOSTBUSTERS (Ray Parker, Jr.): I Want a New Drug, Huey Lewis and the News
• ICE, ICE BABY (Vanilla Ice): Under Pressure, Queen/David Bowie
• OH, PRETTY WOMAN (Roy Orbison): Pretty Woman, 2 Live Crew  
• YOU CAN’T CATCH ME (Chuck Berry): Come Together (The Beatles)
• KOOKABURRA SONG (Larrikin Music): Down Under, Men at Work
• I WANNA BE YOUR BOYFRIEND (the Rubinoos): GIRLFRIEND, Avril Lavigne
• TAURUS (Spirit): Stairway to Heaven, Led Zeppelin
• WE USED TO KNOW (Jethro Tull): Hotel California, The Eagles
• IF I COULD FLY (Joe Satriani): Viva La Vida (Coldplay)
• I WON’T BACK DOWN (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers): Stay with Me, Sam Smith
• POUR SOME SUGAR ON ME (Def Leppard): Midnight Memories, One Direction
• LOVE IS A WONDERFUL THING (The Isley Bros.): Love is a Powerful Thing, Michael Bolton
• THE AIR THAT I BREATHE (Albert Hammond): CreepSong, Radiohead
• TAJ MAHAL (Jorge Ben Jor): Do Ya Think I’m Sexy? Rod Stewart 
• SORRY (Justin Bieber): Ring the Bell, White Hinterland
• BABA O’RILEY (The Who): Best Song Ever, One Direction
• DAZED AND CONFUSED (Jake Holmes): Dazed and Confused, Led Zeppelin
• LADY JANE (The Rolling Stones): Borrowed Tune, Neil Young   
• CRESCENT CITY BLUES (Gordon Jenkins): Folsom Prison Blues, Johnny Cash
• ALL DAY AND ALL OF THE NIGHT (The Kinks): Hello, I Love You, The Doors
• UGLY AS I SEEM (The White Stripes): Born Free, Kid Rock
• ANACREON IN HEAVEN (John Stafford Smith): The Star-Spangled Banner (words by Francis Scott Key).
• PICTURE BOOK (The Kinks): Warning, Green Day
• FATHER AND SON (Cat Stevens): Fight Test, The Flaming Lips
• EXPRESS YOURSELF (Madonna): Born this Way, Lady Gaga
• CRIMSON AND CLOVER (Tommy James and the Shondells): Black Magic, Jarvis Cocker
  

Did you see any songs you know on this list? Were you surprised? Listen to them; see if you agree. Coincidence or rip-off?