Taylor Swift Asks Court To Dismiss “Shake It Off” Copyright Complaint
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An allegation has been put on the famous singer, Taylor Swift to have stolen the lyrics of the ‘Shake it off ‘ song from the 2001 song, “Playas Gon’ Play”.
This song of 2001, “Playas Gon’ Play” was written by Sean Hall and Nathan Butler. And went onscreen by the group 3LW. The writers of this song alleged the pop singer to have ripped their lyrics. And sued Taylor Swift in 2017.
The lyrics of the song over which the dispute arrived was “Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play and the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate,” which resembles the same as Hall and Butler’s song lyrics, “playas, they gonna play” and “haters, they gonna hate.”
The Proceeding Of The Case
Taylor Swift filed a motion to dismiss the case over plagiarism allegation that has been put on her. She also mentioned that this kind of case has never been allowed by any other court for the trial. On December 9, Michael W. Fitzgerald, the U.S District judge denied Swift’s motion. By finding it as a genuine dispute and asking for a trial to help it resolve.
Fitzgerald said that there were enough objective similarities in the tracks of the two songs for the case to move forward. He opined that trial was the best way to look into the case. Also to decide whether the similarities in the lyrics of the two songs were enough to meet the threshold of copyright infringement.
Taylor Swift’s And Hall & Butler’s Lawyers Statements On The Case
Peter Anderson, Taylor Swift’s attorney argued that both songs use versions of two public domains. Which are meant to be free to use for anybody. He also suggested that. “Otherwise, Plaintiffs could sue everyone who writes, sings, or publicly says ‘players gonna play. ‘haters gonna hate’ alone with other tautologies,”. He said that the extrinsic test in copyright law. The one which distinguishes between the protected and unprotected work in an individual’s work was not included in the judge’s findings.
Gerard Fox, the lawyer representing Hall and Butler, told for Swift’s motion, “We feel there is no basis for reconsideration. This is just a music mogul. Her machine trying to deny our client justice by outspending a fellow lower-income artist. Uncool among artists.”
For reconsideration of Swift’s request, a hearing on February 7 is scheduled in Los Angeles.
