“Stairway to Heaven” Lawsuit Against Led Zeppelin to Be Reheard in Fall 2019

The on-going lawsuit against Led Zeppelin is now to be reheard. After a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the previous judge had “provided erroneous jury instructions” last year, it is now back in court. According to Pitchfork, “It was decided today (June 10) that all members of the appellate court will rehear the case.” The rehearing was requested by both parties and will take place the week of September 23, 2019.

The case dates back to 2014 where Michael Skidmore, a trustee for the estate of former Spirit guitarist Randy California, filed a lawsuit against Led Zeppelin for copyright infringement, claiming that the introduction to the classic “Stairway to Heaven” was improperly inspired by Spirit’s 1968 instrumental “Taurus.” In 2016, the judge favored in the band. District Court Judge Gary Klausner knew that as much in his ruling that the case could go to trial, writing that “the similarities here transcend” the shared use of standard musical changes.  The jury in the case won’t be allowed to hear about Zeppelin’s history of awarding songwriting credits long after the fact, the judge has ruled.