Big news out of California, as a federal jury has found Led Zeppelin not guilty in their plagiarism lawsuit.
The suit, which debated whether their most famous song, “Stairway to Heaven”, was actually copied or influenced by the song “Taurus” by the band Spirit, has been going on since April. All three surviving members of Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, wound up testifying in the proceedings.
The verdict was decided earlier today, shortly after the sides finished their closing arguments. The case had been pursued by the estate of Spirit’s original guitarist and lead songwriter, Randy California, who passed away in 1997.
Plant and Page issued a statement, which you can read here:
We are grateful for the jury’s conscientious service and pleased that it has ruled in our favor, putting to rest questions about the origins of ‘Stairway to Heaven’ and confirming what we have known for 45 years. We appreciate our fans’ support, and look forward to putting this legal matter behind us.” – Jimmy Page and Robert Plant
In honor of their victory in court, take a look back at Led Zeppelin’s Celebration Day from their reunion concert at London’s O2 Arena in 2007.