Top 50 Rip Off Songs

Top-50-Rip-Off-Songs

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for songs that might be a little too similar to be written off as a coincidence.

#50: Australian Crawl “Unpublished Critics” (1981) vs. Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child o’ Mine” (1988)
Some songs are instantly identifiable — and not just because of an instantly iconic opening riff. When “Sweet Child o’ Mine” was released in 1988, the band was met with acclaim from fans and critics alike. But decades later, it gained attention for having a resemblance to a smaller group’s piece. The comparison with “Unpublished Critics” by Australian Crawl spread around the Internet, with people noting similar chords and melodies. Guns N’ Roses bass player Duff McKagan commented on the overlap, but insisted that he hadn’t heard the Aussie song before. The answer apparently satisfied the lead singer of Australian Crawl, who later quipped that the issue wasn’t worth a legal battle.

#49: Artikal Sound System “Live Your Life” (2017) vs. Dua Lipa “Levitating” (2020)
Getting smacked with two copyright claims for the same song has to hurt. “Levitating” helped bring Dua Lipa’s pop career to new heights, but that didn’t come without some controversy. While one was dismissed after just a few months, the other went on for over a year. Reggae group Artikal Sound System pointed out the alleged parallels found in the chorus of their song, “Live Your Life,” and “Levitating.” Things seemed to get murkier when they asserted that the pop star’s team had been aware of their song beforehand. However, the suit was eventually dropped.

#48: Glenn Miller “In the Mood” (1939) vs. The Beatles “All You Need Is Love” (1967)
Navigating copyright laws can get tricky, especially when it comes to older works. The Beatles learned this first hand after they released the anthemic “All You Need Is Love.” Their “musical quotation” of the jazz standard “In the Mood” would lead to a dispute between studios and publishers. George Martin’s orchestral arrangement for “All You Need Is Love” included portions of a variety of songs, and the final version includes a few of the Beatles’ previous hits thanks to some in-studio improvisation. However, Martin apparently didn’t check whether “In the Mood” was under copyright, which eventually led to the studio paying royalties to Glenn Miller’s publisher.

#47: Pat Boone “Speedy Gonzales” (1962) vs. Elton John “Crocodile Rock” (1972)
Who knew a song about a cartoon mouse could cause this much drama? Popularized by Pat Boone in 1962, “Speedy Gonzales” quickly climbed the charts, easily hitting the top ten and remaining a force for over ten weeks. It was such a well-loved piece that when Elton John released a track with a familiar sound, comparisons were soon drawn between the two. The team behind “Speedy” ended up going after John and Bernie Taupin about two years after “Crocodile Rock” was released, arguing that they had lifted some of the chords for their own recording. The two parties reportedly opted to settle out rather than continue the process.

#46: 3LW “Playas Gon’ Play” (2001) vs. Taylor Swift “Shake It Off” (2014)
This was proof that not all decisions made in a court of law are final. Taylor Swift led off her triumphant debut into pure pop with lead single “Shake It Off.” She incorporated a variety of popular phrases, and while they ended up making for a catchy tune, their originality was questioned. The writers behind 3LW’s “Playas Gon’ Play” sued her in 2017, alleging that she plagiarized their lyrics. The suit was tossed out, but then the decision was reversed. The legal back-and-forth went on for several more years, before being dropped in 2022 with no verdict. It was an anticlimactic end to such a long fight, leaving the final decision to the listeners.

#45: Sami Chokri & Ross O'Donoghue “Oh Why” (2015) vs. Ed Sheeran “Shape of You” (2017)
While some accusations of stolen art are cut and dry, others might be more of a reach. Ed Sheeran is no stranger to them, and has had his work questioned several times. In 2018, he was taken to trial by Sami Chokri and Ross O’Donoghue, who felt that his hit “Shape of You” borrowed elements from their own track, “Oh Why.” Legal action ensued. In 2022, the judge ended up siding with Sheeran, saying that the slight likeness wasn’t enough to prove he’d deliberately or subconsciously copied them. Although he won the case, it reportedly prevented Sheeran from receiving millions in royalties. As a result, the British performer was quoted calling out the proliferation of “baseless” claims.

#44: Toni Basil “Mickey” (1981) vs. Avril Lavigne “Girlfriend” (2007)
When a beat is this recognizable, it’s impossible to try and pass off as your own. Toni Basil's “Mickey” made waves in the 1980s, with the beat helping it maintain a presence within pop culture decades after it was released. When Avril Lavigne dropped “Girlfriend” over 25 years later, many noticed that the hook-chant was pretty similar to the eighties bop. Several critics argued that she had ripped off the original, all while sounding more immature than her older counterpart. Others posited that it could be considered a tribute to Basil. While the Canadian entertainer managed to skate by without being served, you may never be able to listen to “Girlfriend” the same way again.

#43: Jake Holmes “Dazed and Confused” (1967) vs. Led Zeppelin “Dazed and Confused” (1969)
Creativity can strike anywhere — including while seeing other musicians perform. Jake Holmes recorded “Dazed and Confused” in 1967, but it didn’t remain his for very long. The Yardbirds reworked the number for their own discography. Guitarist Jimmy Page then decided to take it once again and re-record it with his new group, Led Zeppelin. It ended up becoming one of their own signature songs, apparently much to the chagrin of the original writer. Holmes reportedly attempted to resolve the issue in the 1980s, but never received a reply. He ended up filing a lawsuit around thirty years later. It was later settled, with his name added to the piece, citing him as the official inspiration.

#42: Bob Dylan “Idiot Wind” (1975) vs. Hootie & the Blowfish “Only Wanna Be with You” (1995)
When do references cross the line into plagiarism? This is a question that Hootie & the Blowfish were left to reckon with after they caught some heat for quoting Bob Dylan in their smash hit. In “Only Wanna Be with You,” several references are made to the prolific songwriter, including a number of lines from his track “Idiot Wind.” Band frontman Darius Rucker reportedly said Dylan’s camp had knowledge of the lyrics, but that didn’t protect them from being slapped with a lawsuit. According to sources, Dylan got $350,000 to settle the case.

#41: Paramore "Misery Business" (2007) vs. Olivia Rodrigo "Good 4 U" (2021)
While Olivia Rodrigo’s debut studio album was undoubtedly successful, it also wasn’t without its fair share of controversy. “Sour” was widely praised, but multiple tracks were called out for bearing resemblance to other works. One example is when she was required to give recognition to several artists after interpolating Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” on “Deja Vu.” Her woes didn’t end there. Many noticed that the chorus of her pop-punk inspired single “Good 4 U” sounded quite close to Paramore’s “Misery Business,” which had come out over a decade earlier. This reportedly led to them receiving acknowledgement and up to over a million dollars in royalties.

#40: David Bowie “Boys Keep Swinging” (1979) vs. Blur “M.O.R.” (1997)
In an homage to David Bowie, the Britpop band Blur took a few cues from the legend’s work on the “Lodger” album. Their single “M.O.R.” bears a close resemblance to Bowie’s song “Boys Keep Swinging.” Most of the music revolves around the same chord progression. The basic musical idea originated from Bowie and producer Brian Eno’s experiments in the late 1970s, which also included the similar sounding “Fantastic Voyage.” Damon Albarn and his bandmates boldly saluted the music icons and eventually had to give them credit. Following some legal efforts, the songwriting team for this track received an adjustment.

#39: The Raisens “Healthy” (Unreleased) vs. Lizzo “Truth Hurts” (2017)
Lizzo has seen tremendous success with hits like “Truth Hurts.” The empowering anthem allows the artist to showcase her independence in iconic lines. But it resulted in an accusation that the singer lifted a key line from Twitter, along with separate assertions regarding proper songwriting credit. Justin and Jeremiah Raisen claimed that their demo “Healthy” was the basis for this track. The brothers said that they worked with the artist on the idea, which allegedly shares lyrical and musical similarities with her eventual single. Lawyers denied this connection, but credit was later given to Mina Lioness for inventing the “100% that bitch” mantra in a tweet. Lizzo also sued the Raisens for apparently harassing her about their authorship claims.

#38: Yeasayer “Sunrise” (2007) vs. The Weeknd & Kendrick Lamar “Pray for Me” (2018)
Collaborating for the soundtrack of “Black Panther,” The Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar recorded the song “Pray for Me.” The track prompted the band Yeasayer to sue for copyright infringement. Claiming that the work borrows from their single “Sunrise,” the rock group says that there’s a comparable vocal part in both efforts. The act even argued that the accused artists replicated aspects of the original recording for their own benefit. Pushing back against the allegations, The Weeknd and Lamar asserted their innocence. Two years after the newer composition’s release, Yeasayer ended the lawsuit and left the songwriters with full credit.

#37: Tracy Chapman “Baby Can I Hold You” (1988) vs. Nicki Minaj feat. Nas “Sorry” (2018)
For her track “Sorry,” Nicki Minaj wanted to use a sample of Tracy Chapman’s classic 1988 song “Baby Can I Hold You.” Minaj went ahead with the production despite Chapman denying her request. When Minaj’s 2018 effort was leaked, the original singer/songwriter sued in an attempt to stop the new composition from being released. A judge ultimately decided that Minaj’s work could be considered fair use. The entire lawsuit came to a close in 2021, with the rapper paying $450,000 to Chapman. After all of the hassle, “Sorry” mostly remains famous for this copyright dispute.

#36: Keith Jarrett “Long as You Know You’re Living Yours” (1974) vs. Steely Dan “Gaucho” (1980)
Jazz rock legends Steely Dan are known for their epic compositions and complex structures, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t also inspired by their contemporaries. Keith Jarrett’s “Long as You Know You’re Living Yours” is all over their track “Gaucho” and singer Donald Fagen later mentioned being inspired by it. Jarrett naturally filed suit after hearing similar musical elements in the 1980 release. Along with a familiar tempo, they each implement a signature saxophone line. Both songs undoubtedly come from the same cloth in a way that even casual listeners could decipher. Following a legal battle, the plaintiff was awarded a co-writing credit.

#35: Public Enemy “Security of the First World” by (1988) vs. Madonna “Justify My Love” (1990)
If you happen to be a fan of Madonna’s “Justify My Love,” you may or may not be aware of the Public Enemy song “Security of the First World.” The introductory section of the pop singer’s hit sounds almost identical to the rap group’s instrumental. The hip-hop collective argued that the 1990 single sampled their beat, but the songwriter Lenny Kravitz never admitted to consciously taking it. Producer Hank Shocklee said that his drum pattern was taken from him without permission and considered a lawsuit. A counter-argument said that it was just inspired by an earlier James Brown work, but Shocklee asserted that it was original. The battle ultimately never became more than a few back and forth remarks in the press.

#34: Flourgon “We Run Things” (1988) vs. Miley Cyrus “We Can’t Stop” (2013)
The early 2010s saw the return of Miley Cyrus as a pop star, releasing the hugely successful single “We Can’t Stop.” Some of the lyrics involve a line that singer Flourgon recognized. With a few basic differences, both tracks share the same central idea. The Jamaican singer felt it was too close to his own song “We Run Things” and followed up with a massive lawsuit. He initially hoped to receive damages in the neighborhood of $300 million. After Cyrus agreed to settle, the artist also known as Michael May won an unknown amount of money.

#33: Bobby Caldwell “Carry On” (1982) vs. “Carry On” by Lil Nas X (2018)
Lil Nas X is one of the boldest and most provocative artists of his era. He’s also been embroiled in multiple cases of copyright infringement, with this one being lesser known than the attention surrounding his hit “Old Town Road.” The single “Carry On” borrows more than just a title from Bobby Caldwell’s song of the same name. Once the publishers of the older singer found out about it, they promptly served the rapper with a multi-million dollar lawsuit. The younger performer allegedly didn’t ask for permission before releasing the track on his mixtape “Nasaratti.” As of mid-2023, the pending suit still hadn’t been resolved.

#32: Radiohead “Creep” (1992) vs. Lana Del Rey “Get Free” (2014)
Radiohead was sued for plagiarizing part of their breakthrough hit “Creep,” but that didn’t stop their publishers from going after Lana Del Rey for chord structure similarities between “Creep” and “Get Free.” The publishers stated that they were merely asking for the writers of “Creep” to be added as co-authors. The singer said she made an offer to them for a percentage of the royalties, but the rock act allegedly attempted to take away all of it for themselves. The suit was later settled, according to the “Get Free” performer. While some of these events are still unclear, there hasn’t been any subsequent change to the credits for Del Rey’s track.

#31: Pat Benatar “Shadows of the Night” (1984) vs. Rascal Flatts “No Reins” (2007)
After songwriter D.L. Byron heard the Rascal Flatts’ track “No Reins,” he was convinced that the group had taken a cue from one of his biggest works. The author of Pat Benatar’s “Shadows of the Night” felt that the songs were too similar to be a coincidence. Byron then sued the country group, feeling that the trio reinterpreted the chorus for their own tune. Representatives for one of the bandmates released a statement that denied any alleged plagiarism of the 1984 hit. Listeners will likely find themselves siding with the Benatar collaborator after hearing the introduction of the more recent release. All these years later, it seems that there hasn’t yet been a proper end to the lawsuit.

#30: Bryan Pringle “Take a Dive” (1999) vs. Black Eyed Peas “I Gotta Feeling” (2009)
Unknown songwriter Bryan Pringle alleged that a version of his track “Take a Dive” was used for the Black Eyed Peas smash “I Gotta Feeling.” According to the musician, he sent a copy to Interscope Records and somehow the songwriters got hold of it. It’s never been proven whether or not it ever got into the hands of producer David Guetta or any of the band members. Regardless of the questionable accusations, the plaintiff tried to make a case that revolved around the repetitive guitar riff. Pringle’s work features a similar sound that he hoped would be surefire evidence in court. Unfortunately for his case, there wasn’t sufficient evidence to move forward and the claim was dismissed.

#29: John Lee Hooker “Boogie Chillen’” (1948) vs. ZZ Top “La Grange” (1973)
When you’re dealing with the blues, it’s not uncommon to find patterns between songs. This was the case with ZZ Top’s classic single “La Grange.” The publisher for John Lee Hooker’s track “Boogie Chillen’” asserted that the two were especially close, filing a lawsuit against the band as a result. It’s undeniable that the blues legend inspired countless artists. In the case of ZZ Top, a case could be argued that they subconsciously used Hooker’s riff. The reality of the situation was that the music was considered public domain for its origins. Unable to convince the proper authorities, the suit was officially dropped in 1995.

#28: Killing Joke “Eighties” (1984) vs. Nirvana “Come as You Are” (1992)
Following the release of their album “Nevermind,” Nirvana shot to fame and even received scrutiny for their songs. Such was the case for their single “Come as You Are.” British group Killing Joke thought the grunge band ripped off their guitar riff, leading to the threat of legal action. There was definitely a potential case to be argued with the help of musicologists. After the death of Kurt Cobain, the possible suit didn’t go forward, with the plaintiffs looking to move on with their lives. All that remains is the knowledge that Cobain himself knew the two pieces were perhaps too similar.

#27: The Isley Brothers “Love Is a Wonderful Thing” (1966) vs. Michael Bolton “Love Is a Wonderful Thing” (1991)
Singer Michael Bolton was known to revisit soul classics and invent a few of his own. For his track “Love Is a Wonderful Thing,” the performer claimed to have no knowledge of the song of the same name by The Isley Brothers. The R&B group sued on the basis of plagiarism for more than just the title. What followed was an almost decade-long event that included failed appeals on the part of Bolton. Ultimately, the courts ruled in favor of the Brothers and awarded them millions in royalties. It was considered one of the most significant payouts in music copyright history.

#26: Jorge Ben Jor “Taj Mahal” (1972) vs. Rod Stewart “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?” (1978)
When Rod Stewart went disco in the late 1970s, he apparently did so with the help of Jorge Ben Jor’s music. The latter’s song “Taj Mahal” provided the basis for the unforgettable “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?” Ben Jor sued the British rocker, noting that the melody in the chorus is eerily close to the one in his own track. Rather than letting it become a drawn out case, the former “Faces” frontman did the honorable thing. Stewart admitted that he’d heard the other tune before and subconsciously swiped it for his own number. The profits for the pop tune were donated to UNICEF, giving this lawsuit one of the happier endings in music history.

#25: Gordon Lightfoot “If You Could Read My Mind” (1970) vs. Whitney Houston “The Greatest Love of All” (1986)
One of Canada’s greatest songwriters, Gordon Lightfoot’s legacy stretches much further than some people might think. His DNA may or may not have inspired the producer Michael Masser on his composition “The Greatest Love of All.” Famously covered by Whitney Houston, the track features a vocal melody that’s fairly close to the one in “If You Could Read My Mind.” Lightfoot sued Masser for allegedly borrowing several bars of his 1970 song. The folk hero eventually gave up on the lawsuit, later realizing that Houston was being unfairly lumped into a dispute that wasn’t her fault.

#24: Def Leppard “Pour Some Sugar on Me” (1987) vs. One Direction “Midnight Memories” (2014)
While the groups seem like a world away, Def Leppard and One Direction have one alleged connection. The former’s single “Pour Some Sugar on Me” could be a possible inspiration for the pop act’s “Midnight Memories.” Many audiences found the choruses to have more than a passing resemblance, with the hard rock band considering a lawsuit. The writers of the 1987 classic decided to stop short of any official legal proceedings. Guitarist Vivian Campbell felt that the songs were both indebted to the blues, adding that there wasn’t much reason to pursue such a common concept. The younger quintet’s embrace of rock sounds ended up being a success in its own right.

#23: The Police “Every Breath You Take” (1983) vs. Puff Daddy & Faith Evans “I’ll Be Missing You” (1997)
If you want to sample a song by Sting, you should probably ask him first. P. Diddy, then known as Puff Daddy, didn’t get permission and paid the price for it. There’s no question that the Bad Boy producer took the main guitar part from The Police wholesale. Used in a touching tribute to Biggie Smalls, the iconic arpeggio was the perfect inclusion to the hit rap single. The frontman for the 1980s band sued and won all of the track’s royalties. You’d imagine that this would’ve created a lot of animosity between Sting and Diddy, but they eventually became unlikely friends.

#22: Marvin Gaye “Let’s Get It On” (1973) vs. Ed Sheeran “Thinking Out Loud” (2014)
Considering the scope of Marvin Gaye’s contributions to music, it’s not hard to imagine that many artists are constantly inspired by his output. Those in charge of his rights have been known to scrutinize high-profile singles that have any similarities with Gaye’s catalog. In the case of Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud,” some felt that it was too close to the classic hit “Let’s Get It On.” Potential lawsuits were drawn up, dismissed, and reworked over the years. The trial finally went forward in 2023, at which point Sheeran was cleared of any potential infringement. With both songs using a comparable chord structure, the final ruling bodes well for pop stars that have faced accusations of consciously or unconsciously stealing from others.

#21: Spirit “Taurus” (1968) vs. Led Zeppelin “Stairway to Heaven” (1971)
Arguably the most lauded rock composition ever, “Stairway to Heaven” is the epic of all epic songs in its respective genre. Led Zeppelin and fellow rockers Spirit were in close enough proximity that they would’ve been exposed to each other’s music. The latter band had an instrumental called “Taurus,” which has a guitar part that’s not unlike the beginning of Zeppelin’s track. They sued for copyright infringement in 2014, entering into a multi-year war over the rightful authorship of “Stairway.” Robert Plant and Jimmy Page seemingly didn’t have a memory of the plaintiff’s music and ultimately the powers-that-be sided with the more famous musicians.

#20: The Kinks “All Day and All of the Night” (1964) vs. The Doors “Hello, I Love You” (1968)
Although The Doors’ guitarist Robby Krieger denied that his band copied the chord-driven main riff of the 1964 Kinks’ track, The Kinks’ music publishers found these two singles were just a bit too similar. Turns out UK courts agreed, so a deal was eventually struck entitling The Kinks to a large share of “Hello, I Love You”’s British royalties. The Doors’ song credits remain unchanged, but in 2014, Kinks lead singer and main songwriter Ray Davies suggested to Rolling Stone that an out-of-court settlement had been reached.

#19: Tom Petty “I Won’t Back Down” (1989) vs. Sam Smith “Stay with Me” (2014)
Traditionally when songs popped up sounding a bit “Tom Petty,” the late Heartbreakers frontman let it slide, but this time things played out differently. Although the bandleader expressed no hard feelings and deemed the similarities between the chorus to his “I Won’t Back Down” and Smith’s “Stay with Me” to be “a musical accident,” his publishing company entered the fray all the same. Perhaps it was because unlike “American Girl” and “Mary Jane’s Last Dance,” the TP track in question had a co-writer: fellow Traveling Wilbury and ELO songwriter Jeff Lynne. In the end, Petty and Lynne ended up getting their due credit - along with 12.5% of the “Stay with Me” royalties.

#18: Joe Satriani “If I Could Fly” (2004) vs. Coldplay “Viva La Vida” (2008)
Take notes on this one; you’ll need ’em. First up, Brooklyn-based indie alternative band Creaky Boards suggested that Coldplay had ripped off their ironically titled “The Songs I Didn’t Write.” However, the British rockers had recorded a demo of “Viva” prior to that song’s first performance. Then, Joe Satriani stepped up, lawsuit in hand, claiming Chris Martin and crew borrowed from his “If I Could Fly.” Things got even more complicated when Yusuf Islam, formerly Cat Stevens, joined in on the fun, pointing out that all of these songs sounded like his “Foreigner Suite.” Satriani’s case was later dismissed in 2009.

#17: The New Seekers “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)” (1971) vs. Oasis “Shakermaker” (1994)
Oasis has never tried to hide their reverence for the past when it comes to their own musical style, but this is one case where Noel Gallagher may have borrowed a bit too much. The song “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)” began its life as a Coca-Cola jingle, before being fleshed out and recorded by the New Seekers, and ultimately having its melody and some lyrics woven into the fabric of Oasis’ “Shakermaker.” Most sources claim that Gallagher was forced to change the offending “I’d like to teach the world” line, alter a few notes, and cough up $500,000. Upon losing the aforementioned lawsuit, Gallagher quipped “we drink Pepsi now.”

#16: Muddy Waters “You Need Love” (1962) vs. Led Zeppelin “Whole Lotta Love” (1969)
By cranking the tempo and volume of the blues, Led Zep helped pioneer hard rock and heavy metal. But sometimes, they stuck just a bit too close to their roots. While it took them a long time to get caught, the rock icons were finally sued in 1985 for “Whole Lotta Love”’s whole lotta similarities to the Willie Dixon-penned Muddy Waters classic “You Need Love.” Though things were eventually settled out of court, it wasn’t the only time the British rockers were accused of borrowing material, as even “Stairway to Heaven” has been tainted by calls of plagiarism.

#15: The Rubinoos “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend” (1979) vs. Avril Lavigne “Girlfriend” (2007)
When the Rubinoos stepped up claiming Avril Lavigne had plagiarized them, Avril said “Rubi-WHO?” But aside from claiming she’d never heard of the band OR their song, she and her team chose a risky defense: they said “Girlfriend” was actually closer to the Rolling Stones’ “Get Off of My Cloud.” Or “Mickey.” But wait a minute: what about the Ramones’ song “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend”? Had the Rubinoos themselves plagiarized? Ultimately, a musicologist decided the Rubinoos’ track and Avril’s song were completely different based on science, and the case was settled out of court when Avril’s manager decided it was cheaper than paying lawyers.


#14: The Kinks “Picture Book” (1968) vs. Other Garden “Never Got the Chance” (1997) vs. Green Day “Warning” (2000)
And now: how not to file a lawsuit. In 2001, Colin Merry, songwriter for an obscure English band called The Other Garden, sued Green Day, claiming that “Warning” was a copy of his song “Never Got the Chance.” The band’s lawyer threatened to sue the punk rockers for as much as $100,000, despite the fact that Merry admitted both his and Green Day’s songs had the same, distinct riff as “Picture Book” by The Kinks. Needless to say, the lawsuit was eventually dropped.

#13: Larrikin Music’s “Kookaburra” (1932) vs. Men at Work “Down Under” (1981)
“Down Under,” a backhanded anthem of all things Aussie and a monster hit in the early 1980s, became a source of legal trouble in the 2000s. Originally, the band’s flautist Greg Ham borrowed a two-bar motif from “Kookaburra,” an Australian children’s song. Years went by without incident, until the connection between the two tunes was mentioned on the game show “Spicks and Specks” in 2007. That’s when the rights holders to “Kookaburra” - Larrikin Music - came knocking, demanding 60% of “Down Under”’s royalties dating back to 1981. In July 2010, they instead were granted 5%, backdated to 2002. Sadly, Ham passed away in 2012 at the age of 58, and bandmate Colin Hay cites stress from the court case as a contributing factor.

#12: Huey Lewis and the News “I Want a New Drug” (1984) vs. Ray Parker Jr. “Ghostbusters” (1984)
Who you gonna call? A lawyer, if you’re Huey Lewis. Lewis was actually asked to write a theme for “Ghostbusters” but passed on it to write music for “Back to the Future.” So when Ray Parker Jr.’s theme for the supernatural comedy came out sounding suspiciously like Huey’s “I Want a New Drug,” Lewis cried plagiarism. It was settled out of court almost a decade later and, when The News frontman spilled the beans on the confidential settlement on TV, Ray Parker, Jr. turned the tables and sued Lewis right back in 2001.

#11: Sleigh Bells “Infinity Guitars” (2010) vs. Demi Lovato “Stars” (2015)
Typically, only lyrics and melody are considered copyrightable. For New York band Sleigh Bells, Demi Lovato’s “Stars” sounded “virtually identical” to their “Infinity Guitars” – with a little bit of “Riot Rhythm” mixed in – but it was chiefly the hand claps and bass drum counter rhythm that were cited. It was on this basis that the duo laid a case against Lovato, UMG Recordings, and producers and co-writers Carl Falk and Rami Yacoub. The problem was, Falk and Yacoub claimed no samples were used in the song, and that Demi only wrote one line. The matter was settled in April 2017, and Lovato’s team maintained there was no deliberate infringement.

#10: Creedence Clearwater Revival “Run Through the Jungle” (1970) vs. John Fogerty “The Old Man Down the Road” (1985)
In a very odd move, John Fogerty was sued for sounding like… himself. Fogerty was once the lead vocalist, lead guitarist and primary songwriter of Creedence Clearwater Revival, but after the band broke up, he relinquished his rights to CCR songs to get out of contractual commitments. So, when Fogerty released the solo track “The Old Man Down the Road,” Fantasy Records - owner of CCR’s song catalogue and his label during his Creedence days - claimed it ripped off “Run Through the Jungle.” The swamp-rocker beat the case by bringing a guitar to the stand and demonstrating that the two songs were, in fact, quite different – and that you can’t actually plagiarize yourself. Well played, Fogerty.

#9: Gordon Jenkins “Crescent City Blues” (1953) vs. Johnny Cash “Folsom Prison Blues” (1955)
In the annals of song plagiarism, there have been cases of subconscious plagiarism, outright plagiarism, uncleared samples, and downright sneakiness. This is a case of self-amusement gone awry. While stationed in West Germany in 1953, Johnny Cash wrote new lyrics to the melody of “Crescent City Blues,” inspired by the film “Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison.” Flash forward a few years and Cash is now a recording artist short on material, so he offered up his “Folsom Prison Blues” to producer Sam Phillips, who told Cash not to worry about the legalities. Fifteen years later, the Man in Black would pay out $75,000 in retribution.

#8: The Rolling Stones “The Last Time” (1965) vs. The Verve “Bitter Sweet Symphony” (1997)
This ‘90s Britpop anthem was at the center of a lengthy and contentious plagiarism case. The Verve did obtain the rights to sample part of the Andrew Oldham orchestral version of the classic Stones’ song. The issue was how much the band used, and according to former Stones’ manager and rightsholder of the song Allen Klein, it was way too much. So 100% of the royalties went to Klein and songwriting credit went to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. That’s when Oldham himself demanded recompense for the specific version of the song they had used. Though it took many years, this story does have a relatively happy ending, with the Stones backing off by 2019 and granting all future royalties to Verve lead singer Richard Ashcroft.

#7: Chuck Berry “You Can’t Catch Me” (1956) vs. The Beatles “Come Together” (1969)
This story starts simply enough: John Lennon used an old Chuck Berry song as a starting point for a new song. But this similarity triggered legal issues with Berry’s publisher, the controversial Morris Levy. As repayment, Lennon agreed to record three songs owned by Levy, and attempted to do so during his “Rock ’n’ Roll” album sessions - until producer Phil Spector stole the tapes and went into hiding. When the tapes were recovered, Lennon tried reassuring Levy that he was upholding his end of the deal by sharing a rough mix of his progress… which Levy released himself and chased with a $42 million breach-of-contract lawsuit. Lennon, EMI and Capitol Records countersued, with Levy being awarded a nominal $6,795, while having to pay out somewhere in the ballpark of $150 thousand.

#6: The Chiffons “He’s So Fine” (1962) vs. George Harrison “My Sweet Lord” (1970)
Soon after releasing his solo hit - the first #1 single by a former Beatle - George Harrison found himself at the center of a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Bright Tunes. Harrison was accused of plagiarizing the Ronnie Mack-penned song “He’s So Fine.” The courts ruled he had subconsciously copied The Chiffons’ smash and would owe nearly $1.6 million in damages. But the story doesn’t end there: after Harrison fired his manager - the previously mentioned Allen Klein - during the trial, Klein seized the opportunity to buy the copyright to “He’s So Fine.” The courts ultimately decided Harrison would only have to pay Klein’s ABKCO Industries $587,000 and he ended up with the song’s rights.

#5: The Hollies “The Air That I Breathe” (1974) vs. Radiohead “Creep” (1992)
This case is so open and shut it’s almost dull. While writing “Creep,” Ed O’Brien pointed out to Thom Yorke that the song’s bridge had the same chords as “The Air That I Breathe,” so Yorke decided to grab the song’s melody too. That song’s authors, Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood, then sued, but were impressed by the band’s honesty and settled for credits and a cut of the “Creep” royalties. It’s a sharp contrast to 2018, when Lana Del Rey would allege that Radiohead’s team noticed passing similarities to “Creep” in her song “Get Free” and demanded 100% of her royalties.

#4: Marvin Gaye “Got to Give It Up” (1977) vs. Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell Williams “Blurred Lines” (2013)
In one of many controversies that plagued this summer hit, Robin Thicke actually sued Marvin Gaye’s family for alleging the singer had plagiarized the late soul artist. While Thicke admitted he was inspired by “Got to Give It Up,” he and co-writer Pharrell Williams contended that despite their similar vibe, they were essentially not the same – citing different chords, keys and more. Bridgeport Music also became involved due to claims “Blurred Lines” sampled Funkadelic’s “Sexy Ways.” Despite lots of support from music industry heavyweights who did not believe you could copyright a feeling, in 2018 a judge ordered Thicke and Williams to pay nearly $5 million to Marvin Gaye’s estate.

#3: Chuck Berry “Sweet Little Sixteen” (1958) vs. The Beach Boys “Surfin’ U.S.A.” (1963)
Here’s an instance where the artist openly and knowingly used the tune to an existing song for his new composition. Brian Wilson wanted to write a song about surfing, and felt Chuck Berry’s “Sweet Little Sixteen” was the perfect setting for his surf-themed lyrics. However, he neglected to credit Berry upon its recording and release. Although “Surfin’ U.S.A.” was meant to be viewed as a tribute, Berry’s publishing company was unimpressed and forced Wilson’s manager to surrender copyright to the rock and roll pioneer’s publisher Arc Music.

#2: Multiple Artists vs. Mark Ronson “Uptown Funk” (2014)
We guess it takes a village to write a hit song too. Before the monster hit that is “Uptown Funk” was even released, Ronson and company offered some credit to Trinidad James. After it was released, the Gap Band came knocking, claiming similarities to their “Oops Upside Your Head,” followed by The Sequence, Collage, and finally Zapp in September of 2017. Additionally, Serbian artist Viktorija has alleged that the song lifts elements from one of her songs. By 2018, 17% of the track’s royalties were transferred to the Gap Band, while the credits have ballooned from Ronson, Bruno Mars, Jeff Bhasker and Philip Lawrence to include 6 additional songwriters from their respective groups.

#1: Queen & David Bowie “Under Pressure” (1981) vs. Vanilla Ice “Ice Ice Baby” (1990)
It takes about seven notes to recognize “Ice Ice Baby” for what it is. While the signature bass line amounts to a sample, Vanilla Ice never sought permission to use it, and instead said his tinkering with the riff and adding one note made it original. But in the face of legal action, the rapper caved and granted David Bowie as well as all four members of Queen due credit - and royalties. In 2013, Ice claimed to have bought “Under Pressure” outright; however, the song’s publishing info shows that it’s co-owned by companies representing Queen, Bowie and EMI Music – making Ice’s claim a bit dubious.

Have any of your favorite songs ever been ripped off? Let us know in the comments below!