Music Joe Satriani Sues Coldplay for Plagiarism - Page 8

Braincase · 12-05-2008, 11:38 AM

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/160...coldplay.jhtml

Dec 5 2008 9:27 AM EST
Coldplay Sued By Joe Satriani For Allegedly Plagiarizing 'Viva La Vida' Melody

Guitarist claims the Grammy-nominated song is a rip-off of his track 'If I Could Fly.'

By Gil Kaufman

Not long after Coldplay's Viva la Vida album hit shelves this summer, the blogosphere exploded with suggestions that the title track bore a striking resemblance to a 2004 instrumental track by rock guitarist Joe Satriani titled "If I Could Fly."
Now, Satriani has accused the band of copyright infringement in a lawsuit filed on Thursday in Los Angeles federal court, according to a Reuters report.
A day after the Coldplay album was nominated for seven Grammys, including Record and Song of the Year for "Viva la Vida," Satriani's suit claims that "Viva" incorporates "substantial original portions" of his track "If I Could Fly," from the Is There Love in Space? album.

Satriani, 52, is seeking a jury trial in the dispute, as well as damages and "any and all profits" attributable to the alleged copyright infringement. The songwriting credit on the Coldplay song is attributed to the band's four members: singer Chris Martin, bass player Guy Berryman, guitarist Jonny Buckland and drummer Will Champion. A spokesperson for Coldplay could not be reached for comment at press time.
Satriani isn't the only artist who has claimed the Coldplay song was eerily familiar. Around the time of the album's release, a lesser-known New York band named Creaky Boards claimed that Martin had attended one of their gigs and would have heard the tune "The Songs I Didn't Write," which also bears a similar melody. At the time, Coldplay's spokespeople denied that Martin was at the gig and said the band had written "Viva" several months before that show.

Here's a nice link to a youtube comparison of the two songs.

Based on my observation, Coldplay better get their checkbook out.

Ebolapox · 12-07-2008, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinyEvel

Has anyone posted the "getcha popcorn" smiley yet?

Because if not...

feh. the popcorn has gone stale. the thread lost its burst fifteen posts ago.

**TinyEvel** · 12-07-2008, 09:01 PM

Wait, who the hell is Joe satriani?

I bet he's not as dreamy as Chris Martin.

**DaneMcCloud** · 12-07-2008, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcan

See, this is more the discussion I was hoping for. I went a little overboard on the attack last night. Deleting soon.

No worries, Dude.

As I stated in my first response, proving plagiarism is extremely difficult. Extremely. Joe Satriani's people will have to somehow prove that Chris Martin and/or anyone in Coldplay actually heard Joe's song.

And as I stated earlier, Chris Martin may have heard this song in passing years ago, only to unintentionally use the same melody for their song.

It's a difficult case for sure.

**Mr. Kotter** · 12-07-2008, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taco John

Why is it that every thread Dane gets involved in, there's a 50% chance that it's going to devolve into a pissing match about just how cool he thinks he is?

Talk about the skillet callin' the kettle black.....

**TinyEvel** · 12-07-2008, 11:36 PM

I sat on one of my balls today. I wanted to sue that ball for obstruction of sitting. But I won't. It still is a part of me.

Silock · 12-07-2008, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Every thread?

This from Taco John?

I'm not going to say EVERY thread, but come on, man. You're 43 years old. Isn't it time to mellow out a bit? I think you let other people get to you too much. Just let it go, safe and secure in the knowledge that you're right on this issue

**TinyEvel** · 12-08-2008, 12:47 PM

In my opinion, Satriani should also be suing THE HOME DEPPOT for ripping off the same song.

Listen at :06.

patteeu · 12-08-2008, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silock

If they didn't have a case, why would they have settled? That doesn't make any sense. If they could have won, they would have.

There's risk involved in going to a judgment because you can never be sure that you'll win even if you think you've got a strong case. Settlements are a way of paying to eliminate that risk. Kind of like the "buy now" option on ebay.

**OnTheWarpath15** · 12-08-2008, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinyEvel

In my opinion, Satriani should also be suing THE HOME DEPPOT for ripping off the same song.

Listen at :06.

Braincase · 12-08-2008, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinyEvel

Wait, who the hell is Joe satriani?

I bet he's not as dreamy as Chris Martin.

Based on avatar, I believe TinyEvel has become DOMO-KUN!

**TinyEvel** · 12-08-2008, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Braincase

Based on avatar, I believe TinyEvel has become DOMO-KUN!

Hmmm....

tk13 · 12-09-2008, 01:46 AM

I've always wondered if you tried hard enough, how many cases like this you could probably find. It's hard to reinvent the wheel. That's how you get two people claiming the same band stole the same song.

That chorus bit definitely sounds similar. I personally enjoyed the new album though, I don't know if it was working with Brian Eno or what, I liked it way better than X&Y. But I like all kinds of music, I really could give a rip about what the rest of you idiots think.

Braincase · 12-09-2008, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk13

I've always wondered if you tried hard enough, how many cases like this you could probably find. It's hard to reinvent the wheel. That's how you get two people claiming the same band stole the same song.

That chorus bit definitely sounds similar. I personally enjoyed the new album though, I don't know if it was working with Brian Eno or what, I liked it way better than X&Y. But I like all kinds of music, I really could give a rip about what the rest of you idiots think.

I think you might be onto something here. Rumor has it that Eno and satch are from the same star cluster in the Gamma Quadrant.

DJ's left nut · 12-10-2008, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

No worries, Dude.

As I stated in my first response, proving plagiarism is extremely difficult. Extremely. Joe Satriani's people will have to somehow prove that Chris Martin and/or anyone in Coldplay actually heard Joe's song.

And as I stated earlier, Chris Martin may have heard this song in passing years ago, only to unintentionally use the same melody for their song.

It's a difficult case for sure.

Knowledge can be inferred from facts/circumstances.

They don't technically have to prove he heard it. They can present the music to the jury and allow the jury to make the inference that the songs could never have been so similar but/for Martin having heard the song.

**DaneMcCloud** · 12-11-2008, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Knowledge can be inferred from facts/circumstances.

They don't technically have to prove he heard it. They can present the music to the jury and allow the jury to make the inference that the songs could never have been so similar but/for Martin having heard the song.

This is completely false.

Certain guidelines have been established to prevent the shutdown of the entire music business. Case law now exists to prevent this from happening.

The main element the plaintiff has to "prove" is Coldplay had access to and had heard Satriani's riff. If they can't prove that, the case is over.

Period.

12-05-2008, 11:38 AM
Braincase Banned Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Pond> Me <Barn Casino cash: $11298284	Joe Satriani Sues Coldplay for Plagiarism http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/160...coldplay.jhtml Dec 5 2008 9:27 AM EST Coldplay Sued By Joe Satriani For Allegedly Plagiarizing 'Viva La Vida' Melody Guitarist claims the Grammy-nominated song is a rip-off of his track 'If I Could Fly.' By Gil Kaufman Not long after Coldplay's Viva la Vida album hit shelves this summer, the blogosphere exploded with suggestions that the title track bore a striking resemblance to a 2004 instrumental track by rock guitarist Joe Satriani titled "If I Could Fly." Now, Satriani has accused the band of copyright infringement in a lawsuit filed on Thursday in Los Angeles federal court, according to a Reuters report. A day after the Coldplay album was nominated for seven Grammys, including Record and Song of the Year for "Viva la Vida," Satriani's suit claims that "Viva" incorporates "substantial original portions" of his track "If I Could Fly," from the Is There Love in Space? album. Satriani, 52, is seeking a jury trial in the dispute, as well as damages and "any and all profits" attributable to the alleged copyright infringement. The songwriting credit on the Coldplay song is attributed to the band's four members: singer Chris Martin, bass player Guy Berryman, guitarist Jonny Buckland and drummer Will Champion. A spokesperson for Coldplay could not be reached for comment at press time. Satriani isn't the only artist who has claimed the Coldplay song was eerily familiar. Around the time of the album's release, a lesser-known New York band named Creaky Boards claimed that Martin had attended one of their gigs and would have heard the tune "The Songs I Didn't Write," which also bears a similar melody. At the time, Coldplay's spokespeople denied that Martin was at the gig and said the band had written "Viva" several months before that show. Here's a nice link to a youtube comparison of the two songs. Based on my observation, Coldplay better get their checkbook out.
Posts: 15,429

12-07-2008, 09:01 PM	#107
TinyEvel Just a li'l Evel Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bald. Goatee. Jorts. Casino cash: $5277131	Wait, who the hell is Joe satriani? I bet he's not as dreamy as Chris Martin.
Posts: 11,814

12-07-2008, 11:36 PM	#110
TinyEvel Just a li'l Evel Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bald. Goatee. Jorts. Casino cash: $5277131	I sat on one of my balls today. I wanted to sue that ball for obstruction of sitting. But I won't. It still is a part of me.
Posts: 11,814

12-08-2008, 12:47 PM	#112
TinyEvel Just a li'l Evel Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bald. Goatee. Jorts. Casino cash: $5277131	In my opinion, Satriani should also be suing THE HOME DEPPOT for ripping off the same song. Listen at :06.
Posts: 11,814

12-09-2008, 01:46 AM	#117
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $1742500	I've always wondered if you tried hard enough, how many cases like this you could probably find. It's hard to reinvent the wheel. That's how you get two people claiming the same band stole the same song. That chorus bit definitely sounds similar. I personally enjoyed the new album though, I don't know if it was working with Brian Eno or what, I liked it way better than X&Y. But I like all kinds of music, I really could give a rip about what the rest of you idiots think.
Posts: 54,986