Coldplay, Satriani copyright lawsuit dropped

Reuters, Sep 16, 2009 12:00 am PDT
British rock band Coldplay and Joe Satriani have settled their legal entanglements, and the guitarist's lawsuit alleging copyright infringement has been dismissed, Satriani's representative told Billboard.

While details of the case remain sealed, legal sources said a financial settlement between the two parties may have been reached. Coldplay will not be required to admit to any wrongdoing.

Last December, Satriani filed a lawsuit against the members of Coldplay and their Capitol Records label, alleging the band's song, "Viva La Vida," contained "substantial, original portions" of his 2004 track "If I Could Fly."

"I felt like a dagger went right through my heart. It hurt so much," Satriani told website Music Radar at the time . "The second I heard it, I knew it was (my own) 'If I Could Fly.'

"Almost immediately, from the minute their song came out, my e-mail box flooded with people going, 'Have you heard this song by Coldplay? They ripped you off man.' I mean, I couldn't tell you how many e-mails I received. Everybody noticed the similarities between the songs. It's pretty obvious."

Coldplay denied the allegations.

"If there are any similarities between our two pieces of music, they are entirely coincidental, and just as surprising to us as to him," the band said in a statement at the time.

According to court documents posted at justia.com, the case came to a conclusion Monday. Through his representative, Satriani declined to comment.

(Editing by DGoodman at Reuters)

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