In popular music, there are many songs that sound similar. Sometimes people argue that chord progressions and melodies in popular songs are so similar that these instances are inevitable. Others believe that it proves a lack of originality in the artist who's being accused.
Sometimes these instances amount to nothing more than some shade being thrown in interviews. Other times, however, it can result in a lawsuit. This is the situation country music power couple Tim McGraw and Faith Hill found themselves in. A duet they sang became the topic of conversation and a lawsuit for allegedly copying another song.
Let's take a look at the lawsuit, how it ended, and similar situations other artists have found themselves in.
Tim McGraw And Faith Hill Are Far From The Only Artists To Be Accused Of Copying
There are many examples of songs sounding similar to one another. A famous example was when Lady Gaga released her song "Born This Way" in 2011. When the song was first released, many people said it sounded very similar to Madonna's "Express Yourself." Gaga said that the only similarities to the two songs is the chord progression.
This didn't end in a lawsuit, however. Madonna's only response to the similarities were to call Gaga's song "reductive."
Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams, and T.I. wouldn't be so lucky. Their song "Blurred Lines" got them into some hot water. In addition to the controversy over the video's content and song's lyrics, Marvin Gaye's family believed it copied his song "Got to Give It Up." This led to an ongoing lawsuit that lasted for several years. Thicke and Williams were eventually ordered to pay a large sum of money to Gaye's estate.
Michael Jackson Has Faced Many Plagiarism Lawsuits
Michael Jackson was arguably the most famous and successful artist on the planet during his lifetime. So it makes sense that people would want to take credit for his musical genius.
Jackson released his album "Dangerous" in 1991 and it was followed by a lawsuit over its title track. Crystal Cartier sued Jackson for allegedly plagiarizing her 1990 song of the same name. Jackson claimed it grew out of another song he wrote in 1985. Jackson's demo of "Dangerous" was played in court.
Cartier wasn't able to provide any original tapes to back up her claims. Therefore, the judge found in Jackson's favor.
Jackson was also sued by Italian songwriter Albano Carrissi for his song "Will You Be There." Carrissi claimed that Jackson copied his song "I Cigni di Balaka (The Swams Of Balaka)." He filed a suit against Jackson and his label, Sony Music, in 1992 seeking an injunction in a Rome court against publication of the song in Italy, which he was granted. This was appealed by Jackson and Sony, which reversed the lower court's decision.
In 1997, Carrissi took the case to a Milan Tribunal, where the court ruled in favor of Jackson and Sony.
Ed Sheeran Gets Sued For His Tim McGraw/Faith Hill Duet
In January 2018, Ed Sheeran was the target of a lawsuit over a song he wrote with Amy Wadge, Johnny McDaid, and Steve Mac. The song was titled "The Rest of Our Life" and it was sung by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. Sheeran, his co-writers, McGraw, and Hill were all named in the suit.
Sheeran was sued by Sean Carey and Beau Golden. They alleged Sheeran copied a song they wrote for singer Jasmine Rae titled "When I Found You." Carey and Golden said the writers were "blatantly copying" their song.
"When I Found You" was a hit on the Australian charts in 2016. Carey and Golden were seeking $5 million in damages as well as a running royalty and an award for attorney’s fees.
According to Carey and Golden, Rae spoke to them a month before they filed the lawsuit, claiming a fan tweeted her to ask if she heard Hill and McGraw's duet. The fan told her it sounded "remarkably like" her song.
"The copying is, in many instances, verbatim, note-for-note copying of original elements of the Song, and is obvious to the ordinary observer," their suit claimed.
TMZ reported that Sheeran tried to get a judge to throw out the lawsuit. He reportedly argued it was an "originally and independently created musical composition."
The outlet also reported that both McGraw and Hill insisted the duet wasn't stolen. According to the couple, they "lawfully licensed their song" and "deny the track is a ‘note for note’ duplication" of "When I Found You."
In November, lawyers for Carey and Golden told the media that all partied involved agreed to settle the case. This was disclosed in a letter with the U.S. District Court in Manhattan.
Sony Music Entertainment was among several defendants, as they released the song through their Arista Nashville label. However, Rae didn't want to sue the label or the couple. She was open to pursuing songwriting royalties, though.
In the end, this lawsuit was settled and fans will continue debating on both songs' similarities.