Lawyers for Led Zeppelin members Robert Plant and Jimmy Page filed a motion in Los Angeles federal court on Monday asking the judge in the “Stairway To Heaven” copyright infringement case to decide the outcome now, over a jury, before it resumes on Tuesday.
According to Courthouse News Service, the pair claim that during the first four days of trial, former rock journalist Michael Skidmore – representing Spirit guitarist Randy California (Wolfe) as an estate trustee –
failed to establish ownership of "Taurus," the 1968 song at the center of the lawsuit.
The duo argue the ownership of "Taurus" belongs to Lou Adler's Hollenbeck Music, while also claiming that the plaintiffs have not successfully demonstrated that the Zeppelin members had heard the song before writing “Stairway”, while two music experts failed to present "admissible evidence of striking or substantial similarity" between the two songs.
"Plaintiff rested and failed to carry his burden of proof on multiple issues,” read the court filing on Monday. “Accordingly, judgment should be entered in defendants' favor. At a minimum, judgment should be entered in their favor on plaintiff's claims for actual damages and for profits."
If U.S. District Judge Robert Gary Klausner does not grant the motion, Plant is expected to testify for the defense this week when and if it resumes at the Edward Roybal courthouse in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Page testified over a couple of days last week while bassist John Paul Jones, who was dismissed as a defendant in the case earlier this year, took the stand on Friday as Zeppelin began their defense.
“Stairway To Heaven” appeared on the UK band’s 1971 album, “Led Zeppelin IV.”
One of the best-selling albums in music history, the project went on to sell more than 37 million copies worldwide, including 23 million in the US alone.
See also:
Led Zeppelin members reunite at Stairway To Heaven trial
Jimmy Page testifies on day 3 of the Stairway To Heaven trial
Led Zeppelin: Jimmy Page testifies at Stairway To Heaven trial
VIDEO: Train performs Led Zeppelin II classics on Jimmy Kimmel Live
Search Led Zeppelin at hennemusic
