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Coldplay Not Living La Vida Lawsuit
The seemingly never-ending lawsuit over Coldplay's song 'Vida La Vida' has finally ended. Guitarist Joe Satriani sued the band in December, claiming the band copied "substantial, original portions" of his 2004 song, 'If I Could Fly' in its Grammy-winning hit. According to the Associated Press, a federal judge in Los Angeles dismissed the copyright infringement case at the request of attorneys for both sides.
Compare the two songs in this video.
No details about an agreement were included in court filings, other than each side would pay its own legal costs.
Coldplay snagged a Song of the Year Grammy for the track earlier this year. Satriani's complaint of plagiarism was the third claim against the band - New York band Creaky Boards has said 'Vida La Vida' resembles their track, 'The Songs I Didn't Write' and claims Coldplay singer Chris Martin has heard their song performed live. Also, a month after the band told a federal court that it did not copy parts of Joe Satriani's music, Cat Stevens (aka Yusuf Islam) accused Coldplay of basing the song on his 1970s track 'Foreigner Suite.'
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Tuesday 22 September
By andy
It seems that's the norm today. It's like very few artists and or groups want to share royalities with songwriters so why buy the song when you can listen to someone else's work rewrite it for free and make a ton of money.
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Tuesday 22 September
By me
Sorry Cold Play, but it sounds like Satriani had a good case. Maybe you should rename your album "At Least We Didn't Steal the Lyrics!"
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Wednesday 23 September
By Jeff
yup, Coldplay ripped it! And Ellen needs to take a hike!
Wednesday 23 September
By gd
coldplay, like most modern "artists" has a hard time coming up with truly original or truly new music. just rehash the old. Satriani's finger nail clippings have more talent than that entire band of whinning lyrics and very modest guitars.
Tuesday 22 September
By Steve
So let me get this straight. Coldplay's lyrics perfectly fit Satriani's guitar. That is so not plagiarism. Had Coldplay's guitar perfectly copied Satriani you would have a case. Therefore, you see why Satriani didn't follow through with the lawsuit. Frivolous greed. Yea, they used the rythm as a base but you could compare millions of songs and come to the same conclusion. Puhhhlease!
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Wednesday 23 September
By Shawn
Actually you are incorrect as to copyright infringement. When you copyright a song, you can only copyright the melody, lyrics, and any other uniquely recognizable features of said song. Joe sued because of the melody of his being used... It doesn't matter if it was sung, played on guitar, flugal horn, or xylophone or what. It was his melody, and he has every right to sue for it being used. That's what copyright laws are for, to protect your intellectual property.
And it doesn't matter if Coldplay stole it, or accidentally wrote the same melody. The one who had it copyrighten 1st wins... And it was settled by the band, I'm sure offering a % of royalties.
Wednesday 23 September
By Billy
you obviously are not to educated in how the business part of music works. Joes voice is his guitar, it is not simply a lead, it is the Vocal of his melodies, as is Chris martin's voice with cold play. By copying his guitar with a human vocal it is plagarism.
Wednesday 23 September
By anna
Several decades ago, George Harrison of the Beatles was forced to pay out a million dollars because he stole the melody, music, from another song to write his song, My Sweet Lord... It is not the only instance of the Beatles stealing other artists melodies either....
Coldplay steals from everyone... I am only surprised that U2 did not sue them after this album, given that Chris Martin imitates Bono so much it is sickening. There is nothing original about this band. I guess the only proper smackdown was that U2 cancelled working with them
Joe is one of the worlds greatest rock guitarist, a virtuoso.... Coldplay can't touch his musicianship..... I hope they payed, if not, it really is a time when people are not help accountable.
And by the way, it is true that copywrite laws not only protect your lyrics but your melody as well. Playing it in a different style is called arranged not composing... coldplay can't compose...
Wednesday 23 September
By nesossin06
Joe Satriani is one of the premier guitarists alive. He taught many of the recognizable guitarists of today. Much of Joe Satriani's music does not include lyrics, but the melody used is unmistakable. I'm rather disappointed that this case was settled quietly as Coldplay appears to be a band of talentless thieves. As for his finances, I doubt Joe Satriani is hurting for money. He is such a well known and respected artist, he still plays with Chenfoot, he is credited on many other performers albums, and he has his own series of amps and guitars. At least when hip hop artists sample music, they gain permission first. What Coldplay did is stealing.
Wednesday 23 September
By tara
Listening to those tracks side-by-side make a pretty solid case. The first track was similar and, by itself, might have been explained away by coincidence, but when paired with the vocals that exactly mirrored the melody line of the original there is no doubt it was stolen.
Personally, I would like to see these cases settled with a court judgment rather than a behind-the-scenes settlement like this was. A public precedent should be set and the offending artist(s) should be forced to own up to it publicly. The Grammy should be rescinded (just like Milli Vanilli) and everyone should know that these people are thieves. And really, a percentage of the profits aren't enough. If they had to turn over ALL profits, they might stop stealing their music. As it stands, they are still getting rich off someone else's hard work. They shouldn't reap a single reward for copyright infringement. The only thing they should reap is shame.
Wednesday 23 September
By Gregg
they settled out of court
Tuesday 22 September
By monique
this guy was just trying to get money out them because they took the parts of his bass rhythm and made a badass song out it. He should of known this wasn't gonna work out. Hey satriani you wanna know how to make some money MAKE GOOD MUSIC!!!!! And stop using a lawsuit as an excuse
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Wednesday 23 September
By billy
make good songs you say??? He did this is one and coldplay completely copied the melody. In Joes Sats music the guitar is the voice, and by coldplay doing the exact same melody as the vocals is copyright infringment. It's that simple. I am not biased towards either group, both are great in there own. Joe is by far one of the greatest guitarists of our time and coldplay one of the biggest bands. But it's simple here, they got caught. The truth is many bands have done this even the GREATS Led Zep, Pearl Jam, etc... They just havent got caught.
Wednesday 23 September
By Wild Bill
A badass song?!?! Satriani should write good music? C'mon honey, you need to get a clue. Satriani is a genius who writes for himself and a select group, He's not trying to flood the pimple-squeezing emo-puke crowd. Coldplay recycles or steals everything they can stumble across! The cover of their newest album is a famous painting (I'm sure they found it on a public domain website). Viva la Vida? Sounds like something that Ricky Martin kid thought up, then said to himself: "Nah, that's just too fruity, I'll go with La Vida Loca"! Their music is watered down, weak and whiny, but obviously it appeals to certain crybabies, 'cause they've sold a lot of their "Pablum Lite" to somebody. Oh well. Wake up, blow your nose, quit whining, and go listen to some Rolling Stones, or God forbid, Joe Satriani. Oh, and let me know when Coldpuke steals and dilutes another 'badass' song, I won't hold my breath!
Wednesday 23 September
By evelyn27
Coldplay got the title Viva La Vida from a painting. Not a crappy Ricky Martin song.
Wednesday 23 September
By SANTAGEOC
I see God is still making dumb-ass people!
Wednesday 23 September
By TemDAtli
It is the same melody, it makes no difference if it is being sung or played by guitar. How they arrived at the melody is another question. It is possible to write an original melody that is the same as another composer's melody. Whether accidental or not that is the same melody, key, tempo etc. Cold Play should have simply said they unintentionally wrote the same melody and had a financial settlement with Satriani.
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Wednesday 23 September
By joedavid
a scab is a scab, whether its crossing a picket line, or making money off the work of others and calling it your own.
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Friday 25 September
By himself
Satriani had a top ten album in the indie charts this summer with his band Chickenfoot--so, I believe that settles the question of suing for a living----and, the melody was totally lifted from Satriani, as his album was out for two years before Coldplays'...entirely possible that they heard his song before recording their version!!!
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Wednesday 23 September
By dan
anyone who has heard Satriani knows he has superior talent, he just never sold a bunch of albums. Three bands have accused them of stealing their song now! That is not common to have occur. Cat Stevens was far more popular than Coldplay in his day and Satriani has far more talent though Coldp[lay is great. The bottom line is people will buy what they like the most and the Coldplay song was the winner here. The others should learn from the experience, especially if the songs werte thast similar. Learn to put out music peopke want to hear and buy.
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