Stories about claims of music copyright infringement appear fairly regularly in Variety and other mainstream publications. Few of these disputes go to trial, and fewer still generate published judicial opinions. Since the 1850s federal courts have published over 100 opinions dealing with this issue, but the frequency with which these cases arise has increased markedly over the past twenty years. We will, of course, add new cases to the web site as they surface.

With this modestly proportioned body of information we have organized the cases chronologically by year. The Case List can be sorted by Year, Case Name, Court, Complaining Song, Defending Song, Complainant and Defendant. To sort within any of these categories click on the category column title to access a drop down menu and choose a sorting option. To see the cases organized chronologically by decade, click on the decade links in the side menu bar.

 

 

 Cases can be sorted by any column by clicking on the title of that column

 
1845Reed v. CarusiC.C. Md.The Old Arm ChairThe Old Arm ChairRussell, HenryCarusi, Samuel
1850Jollie v. JacquesC.C.S.D.N.Y.Serious Family PolkaJollie, SamuelJacques
1887Blume v. SpearC.C.S.D.N.Y.My Own Sweet DarlingCall Me Back AgainBeane, FannieHendrickson, W.D.
1907White-Smith Music v. Apollo CompanySupreme CourtKentucky Babe/Little Cotton Dolly
1914Cooper v. JamesN.D. Ga.Never Turn BackNever Turn BackCooper, W.M.James, Joseph
1915Boosey v. Empire MusicS.D.N.Y.I Hear You Calling MeTennessee, I Hear You Calling MeMarshall, CharlesGodrey, Jeff
1916Haas v. Leo FeistS.D.N.Y.You Will Never Know ...I Didn't Raise My Boy to be a SoldierCahalin, WilliamPiantadosi, Al
1923Hein v. Harris2d Cir. Maria Cahill's Arab Love SongI Think I Hear a WoodpeckerHein, Slivio Howard, Joseph E.
1923Marks v. Leo Feist, Inc.2d Cir.Wedding Dance WaltzesSwanee River MoonLinke, PaulClarke, H. Pitman
1924Fred Fisher, Inc. v. DillinghamS.D.N.Y.DardanellaKa-lu-aBernard, Felix & Johnny BlackKern, Jerome
1928Italian Book Company v. RossiS.D.N.Y.Luna Mezzo MareMamma Mia M'ha MaritanCitorello, PaoloGalasso, A. A.
1932Gotham Music v. Denton Music PublishingN.Y. Ct. App.St. James' InfirmarySt. James' Infirmary or Gambler's Blues Gotham Music PublishingDenton & Haskins Music Publishers
1933Arnstein v. ShilkretS.D.N.Y.Light My Life With LoveLady Divine Ira ArnsteinNathaniel Shilkret
1935Wilkie v. Santly BrothersS.D.N.Y. ConfessingStarlightW.A. (Bud) WilkieBernice Petkere
1936Arnstein v. Edward Marks2d Cir.Ira Arnstein Play, Fiddle, PlayI Love You MadlyEmery Deutsch and Arthur Altman
1936Norden v. Oliver DitsonD. Mass.O Gladsome LightO Gladsome LightN. Lindsay NordenFisher
1937Hirsch v. Paramount PicturesS.D. Cal.Lady of LoveWithout a Word of WarningHortense HirschHarry Revel
1939Arnstein v. ASCAPS.D.N.Y.Whisper to MeMy Wishing SongIra ArnsteinJoe Burke
1940Darrell v. Joe Morris Music2d Cir.Does Anybody Want a Little KewpieOn the Beach at Bali-BaliJack DarrellSherman, Meskill, and Silver
1940Davilla v. HarmsS.D.N.Y.If I were a Spider...Desert SongJoseph DavilaSigmund Romberg
1941Allen v. Walt DisneyS.D.N.Y.Old EliSomeday My Prince Will ComeWadsworth DosterFrank Churchill
1941Marks v. StasnyS.D.N.Y.Allà en el Rancho GrandeAllà en el Rancho GrandeSilvano D. RamosAnonymous
1942Carew v. R.K.O. Radio PicturesS.D. Cal.ChatterboxChatterboxEvelyn Carew Jerome Brainan
1942McMahon v. HarmsS.D.N.Y.In Sunny KansasLove Sends A Little Gift of RosesJoseph McMahonJohn Openshaw
1943Arnstein v. Broadcast Music2d Cir.Whisper to MeIt All Comes Back to Me NowIra ArnsteinHy Zaret et al.
1943Arnstein v. Twentieth Century FoxS.D.N.Y.KalamazooI've Got a Gal in Kalamazoo Ira ArnsteinHarry Warren
1945Brodsky v. Universal Pictures Company2d Cir.Prelude in A MajorBad Lands of DakotaBrodskySalter
1945Jewel Music v. Leo FeistS.D.N.Y.Carnival in Cotton TownDrummer Boy Louis RiccaRoger Edens
1946Arnstein v. Porter2d Cir.Modern MessiahDon't Fence Me InIra ArnsteinCole Porter
1946Heim v. Universal Pictures2d Cir.Ma Este Meg Boldog VagyokPerhapsHajdu Imre (Heim)Aldo Franchetti
1948Baron v. Leo FeistS.D.N.Y.L'Annee PasseeRum and Coca-ColaLionel Belasco and Massie PattersonJeri Sullivan and Paul Baron
1948Kahn v. Leo Feist2d Cir.Victory CalypsoesRum and Coca-ColaMohammed H. Kahn Leo Feist
1950Shapiro, Bernstein v. Miracle RecordN.D. Ill.Yancey SpecialLong GoneMeade LewisAlphonso Tompkins and Lewis Simpkins
1951Jones v. Supreme MusicS.D.N.Y.Just an Old Fashioned Mother and DadNear YouThelma JonesFrancis Craig
1952Northern Music v. King Record DistributionS.D.N.Y.Tonight He Sailed AgainI Love You, Yes I DoGuy B. Wood and Sol MarcusHenry B. Glover
1953Overman v. Loesser9th Cir. Wonderful YouOn a Slow Boat to ChinaRobert OvermanFrank Loesser
1954Mills Music v. Cromwell MusicS.D.N.Y.Tzena, TzenaTzena, TzenaMills MusicCromwell Music
1956Robertson v. BattenS.D. Cal.The Happy WhistlerAd for San Francisco Brewing CompanyDonald Irwin RobertsonSong Ads, Inc.
1956Smith v. Muehlebach BrewingW.D. Mo.Proposed Advertising Jingle for Muehlebach BeerTime for MuehlebachSmith Muehlebach Brewing
1956Wihtol v. Wells7th Cir.My God and IMy God and IWihtol (I.B. Sergei)Kenneth H. Wells
1958Cholvin v. B & F Music7th Cir. When the Sun Bids the Sky GoodnightWhile We DreamCholvin and Stade Kaczmarek
1959Dorchester Music v. National Broadcasting CompanyS.D. Cal.RendezvousI DreamedFred SpielmanCharles Green
1960Walters v. Shari Music PublishingS.D.N.Y. Iron BarJamaica FarewellLionel Walters Erving Burgie
1963UKFrancis Day & Hunter v. BronCh. App.In a Little Spanish TownWhyFrancis Day & HunterBron
1964Irving Berlin et al. v. E.C. Publications2d Cir.A Pretty Girl is Like a MelodyLouella Schwartz Describes Her MaladyIrving Berlin Frank Jacobs and Larry Siegel
1965Life Music v. Broadcast MusicS.D.N.Y.SUPERCALAFAJALISTICK ESPEEALADOJUSSUPERCALIFRAGILISTIC EXPIALIDOCIOUSPatricia Smith and Don FentonRobert Sherman
1965Nordstrom v. R.C.A.D.Colo.Mizpah or ShalomShalomFrank NordstromJerry Herman
1969Leo Feist v. Apollo RecordsS.D.N.Y. Toot, Toot, TootsieToot, Toot, TootsieGus Kahn et al.Apollo Records
1973Strachborneo v. Arc MusicS.D.N.Y.MOJO WorkoutGot My Mojo WorkingRuth StratchborneoMcKinley Morganfield
1975UKMood Music v. De WolfeCh. D. Sogno NostalgicoGirl in the DarkMood MusicDe Wolfe
1976Bright Tunes Music v. Harrisongs MusicS.D.N.Y.He's So FineMy Sweet LordRonald MackGeorge Harrison
1976Granite Music v. United Artists9th Cir.Tiny BubblesHiding the WineLeon PoberErnest Gold
1976MCA Music v. Earl WilsonS.D.N.Y.Boogie Woogie Bugle BoyThe Cunnilingus Champion of Co. CDon Raye and Hughie Prince Earl Wilson and Billy Cunningham
1978Ferguson v. National Broadcasting Company5th Cir.Jeannie MicheleTheme from "A Time to Love"Wilma FergusonJohn Williams
1978Herald Square Music v. Living MusicS.D.N.Y.Day by DayTheme for N.B.C.'s "Today Show"Stephen SchwartzRay Ellis
1978Plymouth Music Co. v. Magnus Organ Corp.S.D.N.Y.The Holiday PolkaDon Large
1980Elsmere Music v. N.B.C.2d Cir. "I Love New York" (advertising jingle)National Broadcasting CompanySteve KarmanNational Broadcasting Company
1980Testa v. JanssenW.D. Pa.Kept on SingingKeep on SingingPhilip J. Lipari Danny Janssen and Bobby Hart
1984Selle v. Gibb7th Cir.Let It EndBarry Gibb et al.Ronald Selle Barry Gibb et al.
1986Anheuser Busch v. Elsmere MusicS.D.N.Y.Budweiser Beer Commercial (1970s)Budweiser Beer Commercial (1985)Steve KarmenGavin Spencer
1986Benson v. Coca-Cola11th Cir.Don't Cha KnowI'd Like to Buy the World a CokeJohn Benson Coca-Cola Company
1986Fisher v. Dees9th Cir.When Sunny Gets BlueWhen Sonny Sniffs GlueMarvin Fisher and Jack Segal Rick Dees
1987Baxter v. MCA9th Cir.JoyTheme from 'E.T.'Leslie BaxterJohn Williams
1987UKEMI Music v. PapathanasiouCh. D.City of VioletsTheme from "Chariots of Fire"EMI Music PublishingPapathanasiou
1987UKWarner Bros. v. DundasCh. D.MarthaAdvertisement for Kenco CoffeeWarner BrosDundas
1987UKWilliamson v. Peterson PartnershipCh. D."There is nothing like a dame"Advertisement for Rapid Coach ServiceWilliamson MusicPeterson Partnership
1988Gaste v. Morris Kaiserman2d Cir.Pour ToiFeelingsLouis Gaste Morris Kaiserman
1990Dawson v. Hinshaw Music4th Cir.Ezekiel Saw De WheelEzekiel Saw De WheelWilliam Dawson (Arr.)Gilbert Martin (Arr.)
1990Levine v. McDonald's Corp.S.D.N.Y.Life is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled MeMenu SongPaul DiFranco and Norman Dolph McDonalds
1991Grand Upright v. WarnerS.D.N.Y.Alone Again (Naturally)Alone AgainRaymond "Gilbert" O'SullivanBiz Markie
1991Intersong-USA v. CBSS.D.N.Y.EsHeyEnrique ChiaMario Balducci, Julio Iglesias
1991McDonald v. Multimedia EntertainmentS.D.N.Y.Proposed Theme Music for "Sally Jesse Raphael Show"Theme Music for "Sally Jesse Raphael Show"Gerard McDonald Dan Radlauer
1992Chiate v. Morris9th Cir.Hello It's Me / I Just Called to SayI Just Called to Say I Love YouLloyd ChiateStevland Morris
1992Moore v. Columbia Pictures8th Cir.She Can't Stand ItOn Our Own (from "Ghostbusters II")Derrick D. MooreAntonio Reid and Kenny Edmonds
1993Jarvis v. A & M RecordsD.N.J.The Music's Got MeGet Dumb! (Free Your Body)Boyd JarvisRobert Clivilles and David Cole
1993Tempo Music v. Famous MusicS.D.N.Y.Satin DollDuke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Johnny Mercer
1994Campbell v. Acuff-RoseSupreme CourtOh, Pretty WomanOh, Pretty WomanWilliams Dees and Roy OrbisonLuther Campbell
1994Fantasy v. FogertySupreme CourtRun Through the JungleThe Old Man Down the RoadFantasyJohn C. Fogerty
1994Tin Pan Apple v. Miller BrewingS.D.N.Y.Morales and Robertson [Fat Boys] Miller Brewing Co.
1995Crystal Cartier v. Michael Jackson10th Cir.DangerousDangerousCrystal Cartier Michael Jackson
1995La Cienega Music Co. v. ZZ Top9th Cir.Boogie ChillenLa GrangeJohn Hooker and Bernard BesmanZZ Top
1995Woods v. Bourne2d Cir.When the Red, Red, Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' AlongHarry Woods
1996Palmieri v. Estefan2d Cir.Paginas De MujerOye Mi CantoEddie PalmieriGloria Estefan
1996Santrayll v. BurrellS.D.N.Y.Uh OhPepsi Ad featuring "Hammer""The Legend"Stanley Kirk Burrell "The Hammer"
1996Smith v. Michael Jackson9th Cir.Don't Let the Sunshine / Happy Go Lucky GirlThe Girl is MineRobert Smith and Reynard Jones Michael Jackson
1997Damiano v. SonyD.N.J.Miscellaneous lyrics and instrumental arrangementDignityJames Damiano Bob Dylan
1997McRae v. SmithD.Colo.Every Minute, Every Hour, Every DayEvery SecondMaree McRaeWayne Perry and Gerald Smith
1997Repp v. Webber2d Cir.Till YouPhantom SongRay Repp Andrew Lloyd-Webber
1997Tuff 'N' Rumble v. Profile RecordsS.D.N.Y.Impeach the PresidentBack from HellThe Honey DrippersRun DMC
1999BTE v. BonnecazeE.D. La.CoyoteBTE
1999Ellis v. Diffie6th Cir.Lay Me Out By the Jukebox When I DieProp Me Up Beside the Jukebox (If I Die)Everett EllisJoe Diffie
1999Selletti v. Carey2d Cir.HeroHeroChristopher SellettiMariah Carey
1999Suzane McKinley v. Collin RayeN.D.Tex.I Think About YouI Think About YouSuzane McKinleySteve Seskin and Collin Raye
1999ZZ Top v. Chrysler Corp.W.D. Wa. La GrangePromotional video for Plymouth Prowler ZZ TopChrysler Corporation
2000Armstrong v. Virgin RecordsS.D.N.Y.Planetary CitizenUnfinished SympathyMahavishnu OrchestraMassive Attack
2000Three Boys Music v. Michael Bolton9th Cir.Love is a Wonderful ThingLove is a Wonderful ThingIsley BrothersMichael Bolton and Andrew Goldmark
2000Tisi v. PatrickS.D.N.Y.Sell Your SoulTake A PictureMichael TisiRichard Patrick
2001Marlon Williams v. Calvin BroadusS.D.N.Y.The SymphonyGhetto SymphonyMarlon WilliamsCalvin Broadus
2001Toliver v. Sony MusicD. AlaskaIndependent LadyIndependent WomenPaula ToliverDestiny's Child
2002UKCreagh v. Hit and Run MusicCh. Div.Where are You NowWhere are YouMarianne CreaghHit and Run Music
2002Jean et al. v. Bug MusicS.D.N.Y.Hand Clapping SongMy Love is Your LoveLeo Nocentelli, et al.Nel Wyclef Jean and Jerry Duplessis
2002UKMalmstedt v. EMI RecordsCh. D.Jenny and ISleeping in my carStephan MalmstedtEMI Records
2003Cottrill v. SpearsE.D. Pa.What You See is What You GetWhat U See is What U Get, Can't Make You Love Me Michael Cottrill and Lawrence WnukowskiJorgen Elufsson, David Kreuger, Per Magnusson, Rami Yacoub
2003Newton v. Diamond9th Cir.ChoirPass the MicJames W. NewtonBeastie Boys
2003Ory v. Country Joe McDonaldC.D. Cal.Muskrat RambleI Feel Like I'm Fixin' to  Die RagEdward "Kid" OryCountry Joe McDonald
2004Swirsky v. Carey9th Cir.One of Those Love SongsThank God I Found YouSeth Swirsky and Warryn CampbellMariah Carey
2004Ulloa v. UniversalS.D.N.Y.Brief countermelody to defendant's songIzzo (H.O.V.A.)Demme UlloaShawn Carter
2005BMS Entertainment v. BridgesS.D.N.Y.Straight Like ThatStand UpRamid Brown, et al.Christopher Bridges
2005Bridgeport Music v. Dimension Films, et al.6th Cir.Get Off Your Ass and Jam100 Miles and Runnin'George ClintonDimension Films, et al.
2005UKCoffey v. Warner/Chappell MusicCh. D.Forever afterNothing really matttersElizabeth CoffeyWarner/Chappell Music
2005Johnson v. Gordon1st Cir.You’re the One (For Me)You’re the OneCalvin R. JohnsonAllen Gordon Jr.,et al.
2005Positive Black Talk v. Cash Money Records5th Cir.Back That Ass UpBack That Azz UpJubileeJuvenile
2005Vargas v. PfizerS.D.N.Y.Bust Dat Groove Without RideAdvertisement for CelebrexRalph Vargas and Bland-Ricky RobertsBrian Transeau, et al.
2006Boone v. Jackson2d Cir.Holla BackYoung 'NTrajikFabolous
2007Armour v. Knowles5th Cir.Got a Little Bit of Love for YouBaby BoyJennifer ArmourBeyoncé Knowles
2007Bridgeport Music v. Combs6th Cir.Singing in the MorningReady to DieOhio PlayersNotorious B.I.G.
2007Vargas v. TranseauS.D.N.Y.AparthenoniaBust Dat Groove Without RideRalph Vargas and Bland-Ricky RobertsEast West Communications, Inc. and Brian Transeau
2008Glover v. Austin2d Cir.Make Up Your MindUnprettyCorey GloverTLC
2009Allen v. Destiny's ChildN.D. Ill.Cater 2 UCater 2 URickey AllenDestiny's Child
2009Brainard v. VassarM.D.Tenn.Good Ol' Days to ComeGood Ole DaysDustin EvansPhil Vassar
2009Bridgeport Music, Inc. v. UMG Recordings, Inc6th Cir.Atomic DogD.O.G. In MeGeorge ClintonPublic Announcement
2009Jones v. Blige6th Cir.Party Ain't CrunkFamily AffairLeonard Jones and James E. WhiteMary J. Blige