Taylor Swift To Face Trial In "Shake It Off" Copyrights Case

[RAMROD 109,261]

Taylor Swift must face a jury trial over accusations that she stole lyrics for Shake It Off from another song.

A US judge has refused Swift's request to dismiss the case, saying a jury may find that her 2014 hit copied girl group 3LW's 2001 tune Playas Gon' Play.

Both tracks feature variations of the phrases "players gonna play" and "haters gonna hate".

The judge had previously rejected the case, saying the lyrics were too "banal" to be copyrighted.

In his original ruling, District Judge Michael W Fitzgerald cited 13 earlier songs that featured similar phrases, including Playa Hater by The Notorious B.I.G. and Dreams by Fleetwood Mac.

 

However, songwriters Sean Hall and Nathan Butler appealed against the ruling and a federal appeals court reversed his decision.

That sent the case back to Judge Fitzgerald. Swift asked for a summary judgment - an immediate ruling that she had not infringed copyright - but on Thursday, he refused.

Playas Gon' Play was a minor hit for 3LW. Hall has subsequently written and produced songs for such artists as Justin Bieber and Maroon 5, while Butler has worked with acts including Backstreet Boys and Luther Vandross.

Swift's Shake It Off is the biggest-selling single of her career, topping the US charts and reaching number two in the UK (where it was held off the top spot by Meghan Trainor's All About That Bass).

Lawyers for Hall and Butler welcomed the decision, saying the court "did the right thing". The BBC has asked Swift's representatives for a response to the ruling.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-59606655

[Levine 23,562]

Karma, I love it!

[Dojo 19,365]

[alsemanche 93,626]

9 minutes ago, RAMROD said:

players gonna play" and "haters gonna hate".

Everyone says these stuff all the time PLS 

[Sexxx 5,623]

3 minutes ago, alsemanche said:

Everyone says these stuff all the time PLS 

so she shouldn't have tried to trademark "this sick beat" etc. 

[LateToCult 40,896]

A joke of a case. Are they gonna go after Gaga next because “Rain on Me” is the hook of Ashanti’s 2005 song. 

[Lucas 26,711]

Stupid as hell but she tried to copyright/actually copyrighted "This sick beat" or whatever so... kinda the same haha

[alsemanche 93,626]

7 minutes ago, Sexxx said:

so she shouldn't have tried to trademark "this sick beat" etc. 

That's pretty stupid of her too 

[PhantomOfTheDance 13,794]

Players gonna play and haters gonna hate became mainstream in 2012 though??

[doraemon 1,042]

yeah well those who sues just wanted some cash.

[Meat 18,962]

8 minutes ago, LateToCult said:

A joke of a case. Are they gonna go after Gaga next because “Rain on Me” is the hook of Ashanti’s 2005 song. 

Ashanti loves Gaga so she won’t do that 

[wetasspussy 609]

this is giving me katy perry dark horse copyright vibes

[heygurlhi 3,200]

[Clayton 761]

What a reverse see-you-in-court expedition 

[HuffsAhoy 7,433]

Well well well, glad to see Taylor finally get a little reality check. I love to see it