U2 is sued for allegedly stealing song for "Achtung Baby"

Record ID: 355989

  • Title: U2 is sued for allegedly stealing song for "Achtung Baby"
  • Date: 28th February 2017
  • Summary: ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF U2'S BONO AND APPLE CEO TIM COOK SPEAKING ON STAGE NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (FILE - NOVEMBER 25, 2013) (REUTERS) U2 POSING FOR PHOTOS AT "MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM" PREMIERE PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PICTURES U2 POSING FOR PHOTOS
  • Embargoed: 14th March 2017 23:43
  • Keywords: U2 Bono lawsuit copyright the Fly Paul Rose Achtung Baby
  • Location: INTERNET, CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA + NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • City: INTERNET, CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA + NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Judicial Process/Court Cases/Court Decisions
  • Reuters ID: LVA00365FS959
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: A British songwriter and guitarist has sued U2, claiming that the famous band stole one of his songs on its blockbuster 1991 album "Achtung Baby."
    In a complaint filed on Monday (February 27) night in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan, Paul Rose sought at least $5 million (USD) in damages from U2 lead singer Bono and bandmates The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr, as well as Island Records.
    Rose, a British citizen with a dozen of his own albums, said U2 lifted "signature elements" of his copyrighted song "Nae Slappin" for its song "The Fly."
    He said this occurred at a time U2, then arguably the world's most popular rock band, was seeking a "stark departure" from its trademark sound and "rock anthem" lyrics.
    The plaintiff said he gave a demo tape of "Nae Slappin" to Island in 1989, the same year the label signed U2, and that "The Fly" incorporated its guitar solo and other elements, including its distortion and "industrial-style" percussion.
    Rose said ordinary listeners "would reasonably find that the songs are substantially similar," and at times so "strikingly similar" that they could not believe U2 came up with "The Fly" on its own.
    U2 representatives did not immediately respond on Tuesday (February 28) to requests for comment. Island's parent Universal Music Group, a unit of France's Vivendi SA, did not immediately respond to a similar request.
    It was not immediately clear why Rose waited 26 years to sue. His lawyer did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
    Well-known artists are often accused of stealing song ideas from other composers, though few cases go to trial.
    Last June, Led Zeppelin prevailed at trial over whether it stole the opening guitar passage to "Stairway to Heaven."
    In contrast, a jury in March 2015 awarded Marvin Gaye's family $7.4 million for alleged copyright infringement by Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams for their smash "Blurred Lines." Thicke and Williams have appealed the verdict.
    The case is Rose v Hewson et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 17-01471.
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