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Trouble on the way for Rolling Stones? Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have been accused of plagiarism
Even the best bands in the world can get into trouble with the courts regarding allegations of plagiarism and violation of copyright.
In this case, grappling with a potential plagiarism case would be Rolling Stones, with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards accused by a songwriter of copying two of his compositions for one of their 2020 songs.
Here, according to a report by Billboard, is what the accusations against the Stones consist of and what the song in question was allegedly plagiarised.
Rolling Stones risk a lawsuit for violation of copyright
Even the best bands in the world can get into trouble with the justice system regarding allegations of plagiarism and violation of copyright. In this case, grappling with a potential plagiarism case would be Rolling Stones, with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards accused of copying a musician to make one of their 2020 songs. Here, according to a report by Billboard, is what the accusations against the Stones consist of and what the song in question was allegedly plagiarised.
What is the song that would violate copyright?
The song in dispute is 'Living in a Ghost Town', written by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Matt Clifford. This song was released as a surprise in April 2020 during lockdown and was the Stones' first unreleased single eight years after the last one.
Who made the accusation against Jagger and Richards?
According to Billboard, the lawsuit was filed on Friday, March 10 in the New Orleans federal court by singer-songwriter Sergio Garcia Fernandez, aka Angelslang.
In what does this accusation consist?
According to Angelslang, the song "Living in a Ghost Town" is allegedly based on two songs he wrote in 2006 and 2007, called "So Sorry" and "Seed of God". According to the prosecution, Stones misappropriated parts of the melody, chord progressions, parts of the drums, bass and rhythm of "So Sorry", while also using the harmonic and chord progression, as well as the melody, of the second song by Garcia Fernandez, namely "Seed of Good".
How would the plagiarism have occurred?
According to the prosecution, Sergio Garcia Fernandez allegedly handed over a demo CD to a close relative of Mick Jagger in the past, who thus had the opportunity to listen to the tracks and thus came into possession of the music, and then partly reused it in the Stones' 2020 single.
Rolling Stones have not yet made any official comments
Currently busy with the production of their new unreleased album, Mick Jagger and co. have not yet made any official statements on the issue. What is certain is that, in the history of music, there have been many cases of plagiarism: on some occasions, the law has acknowledged it, on many others, however, the judges have acquitted the accused of all charges. We shall see what happens to the Stones...
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