Rock, pop, and hip-hop have always thrived on borrowing.
Melodies echo older songs, basslines reappear in new guises, and samples become foundations of fresh soundworlds. But when homage strays into outright imitation, the courtroom often replaces the studio as the battleground. From accidental plagiarism to brazen theft, here are 11 cases where musicians copied – and paid the price.
1. The Beloved – 'The Sun Rising' (1989)
British dance duo The Beloved scored a hit with 'The Sun Rising', a blissful ambient house track built around a sample of a choral piece called 'O Euchari' by Hildegard of Bingen, and performed the early-music ensemble Gothic Voices. Unfortunately, they hadn’t cleared the sample. The record company of Gothic Voices threatened legal action, and later versions of the track were forced to substitute a different vocal line. What might have been a pure moment of ecstasy on the dancefloor turned into a cautionary tale for the UK rave generation: clear your samples, or pay the price. Here's 'The Sun Rising':
2. The Verve – 'Bitter Sweet Symphony' (1997)
Perhaps the most infamous sampling lawsuit in pop history. The Verve had licensed a six-note string sample from an orchestral version of The Rolling Stones’ 'The Last Time'. But when the song exploded globally, the Stones’ former manager Allen Klein claimed the band had used more of the recording than agreed. A lengthy battle followed, with Jagger and Richards awarded full royalties and publishing rights – an especially bitter blow given the song’s worldwide success. In 2019, however, the Stones finally returned the rights to The Verve’s Richard Ashcroft, closing one of rock’s longest-running disputes.
3. George Harrison – 'My Sweet Lord' (1970)
George Harrison’s 1970 solo hit 'My Sweet Lord' initially seemed a joyous declaration of his spiritual awakening. However, sharp listeners and the publishers of The Chiffons’ 1963 hit 'He’s So Fine' noticed a striking melodic similarity, particularly in the main vocal line. Harrison insisted the likeness was unintentional, attributing it to “subconscious influence” rather than deliberate copying.
The court agreed, ruling it a case of subconscious plagiarism. Harrison was ordered to pay damages, a decision that shadowed him for years. In a humorous twist, The Chiffons later recorded their own version of 'My Sweet Lord', underscoring the song’s enduring charm and the fine line between inspiration and imitation.
4. Led Zeppelin – 'Stairway to Heaven' (1971)
For decades, murmurs circulated that Led Zeppelin had borrowed the iconic opening riff of 'Stairway to Heaven' from 'Taurus', an instrumental track by American psych / prog rockers Spirit. In 2014, Spirit’s estate filed suit. The case dragged on until 2020, when Zeppelin finally won, with the U.S. Supreme Court declining to hear an appeal. Still, the lawsuit sparked heated debates about how much borrowing, inspiration, and coincidence are acceptable in rock songwriting. How similar do they sound to you?
And the 'Taurus' riff, coming in soon after the 50-second mark:
5. Beastie Boys – 'Pass the Mic' (1992)
The Beasties were sued by jazz flautist James Newton, whose composition 'Choir' they had sampled. While they had licensed the recording, Newton argued they hadn’t cleared the underlying composition. The court ruled in favour of the Beastie Boys, setting an important precedent: owning rights to a sound recording doesn’t automatically grant rights to the composition itself. The case underscored how complicated sampling law had become in the 1990s.
6. Robin Thicke & Pharrell – 'Blurred Lines' (2013)
Few cases have reshaped modern pop copyright law like this one. Marvin Gaye’s family argued that Blurred Lines copied the 'feel' of his 1977 hit 'Got to Give It Up'. Thicke and Pharrell denied it, but a jury awarded Gaye’s estate $5 million. Critics warned the verdict threatened creativity by punishing similarity of style rather than direct copying. Still, it was a landmark case: proof that even groove and vibe can be protected in court.
7. Vanilla Ice – 'Ice Ice Baby' (1990)
One of hip-hop’s earliest mainstream hits lifted its famous bassline directly from Queen and David Bowie’s Under Pressure. At first, Vanilla Ice claimed the two lines were different (they weren’t), but legal pressure forced him to settle. Bowie and Queen received royalties and credit. The scandal turned into a pop culture punchline, but it also taught the music industry that plagiarism was no longer a backroom issue – it was front-page news.
8. Radiohead – 'Creep' (1992)
Before it became their signature anthem, Creep nearly landed Radiohead in serious trouble. Its chorus bore a strong resemblance to The Hollies’ The Air That I Breathe.
Songwriters Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood sued, and Radiohead settled out of court, granting them a share of the royalties. Thom Yorke later quipped that Hammond and Hazlewood had “got a piece of [their] biggest song” – proof that even accidental echoes can be costly.
9. Coldplay – 'Viva La Vida' (2008)
When Coldplay topped the charts with 'Viva La Vida', guitarist Joe Satriani quickly filed suit, claiming the melody matched his 2004 track 'If I Could Fly'.
Coldplay denied any wrongdoing, but the case was eventually settled confidentially. Conspiracy theories swirled online, while other musicians noticed uncanny overlaps with still more songs. Coldplay emerged relatively unscathed, but the dispute highlighted how, in the digital age, similarities are spotted – and litigated – faster than ever.
10. Chuck Berry vs. The Beach Boys – 'Surfin’ U.S.A.' (1963)
Brian Wilson’s ode to California surf culture had an unmistakable blueprint: Chuck Berry’s 'Sweet Little Sixteen'. The guitar riff, chord progression, even lyrical structure mirrored Berry’s original. Berry sued, and Wilson’s father (who managed the band) quickly settled, granting Berry songwriting credit. The episode underscored how early rock and roll was full of borrowed DNA – but also that Berry’s influence was too great to be hidden.
11. Sam Smith – 'Stay With Me' (2014)
When Sam Smith released the gospel-inspired ballad Stay With Me in 2014, it quickly became a global hit. But sharp-eared listeners noticed its soaring chorus bore a striking resemblance to Tom Petty’s 1989 anthem I Won’t Back Down. The melodic contour and phrasing were uncannily close, though Smith insisted the similarity was unintentional.
Rather than battle it out in court, the two camps reached a friendly agreement: Petty and co-writer Jeff Lynne were credited and awarded 12.5% of the royalties. Petty himself dismissed any suggestion of theft, calling it a “musical accident” – a reminder that pop’s finite chord progressions sometimes overlap naturally.
Why these cases matter
These lawsuits highlight a central tension in popular music: all art builds on what came before, but copyright demands clear boundaries. Sometimes the theft is blatant, like Vanilla Ice’s bassline lift. Other times, it’s murky, as with Harrison’s “subconscious” borrowing or Blurred Lines’ contested “vibe.” In every case, though, the outcome reshaped how artists, lawyers, and fans think about originality.
And... 5 more close calls
Not every case ends up in court. Sometimes, similarities spark rumours, side-eyed accusations, or backroom deals – but no full-blown lawsuits. Here are five famous near misses:
1. Red Hot Chili Peppers – 'Dani California' (2006)
Fans pointed out uncanny parallels with Tom Petty’s 'Mary Jane’s Last Dance'. Petty chose not to sue, shrugging it off as coincidence.
2. The Strokes – 'Last Nite' (2001)
The opening riff from The Strokes' huge early hit is near-identical to 'American Girl' by Tom Petty (he's coming up a lot, isn't he?). Clearly a good sport, Petty chuckled at the likeness, calling it “a fine song” and letting it slide.
1. Oasis – 'Shakermaker' (1994)
Borrowed Coca-Cola’s jingle 'I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing' almost note for note. Coca-Cola’s lawyers intervened; Oasis quickly settled.
4. Coldplay – 'Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall' (2011)
The melody owes much to Peter Allen’s 'I Go to Rio'. Permission was obtained after fans noticed – but the internet still buzzed with “copycat” claims.
5. Katy Perry – 'Roar' (2013)
This rousing megahit was accused of echoing Sara Bareilles’ 'Brave', released earlier the same year. Bareilles brushed it off gracefully, saying she was flattered, avoiding courtroom drama. And actually, the timings don't match. 'Roar', although released in August 2013, had been recorded in March, before 'Brave's release in April.
Pics Getty Images
