BY TUGRUL SEZEN

YOU BE THE JUDGE

Music is limited to number of notes and most rock/pop music uses well established patterns that cannot be copyrighted. All musicians are inspired by other musicians and songs of the past. So when inspiration becomes plagiarism? Legally, musicians who accuse others of stealing their work must prove the alleged plagiarizer must have heard the song—and the songs must share unique musical components. We will play an online court drama where you are the judge. If you can spare the time go to the first link for musical analysis; if short on time, jump to the songs section. If you do not want to participate you can still enjoy the music.

Here is a musical discussion of the difference between inspiration and plagiarism.

Similarity is in the melody of chorus (2nd part ) of the Ahmet Kaya song with the verse (first part) of Adele song. Gulden Kaya, Ahmet Kaya’s widow in an interview said “A great artist like Adele would not plagiarize.” In another interview Gulden Kaya, said “Adele might have plagiarized subconsciouly, if she did it intentionally than it is theft.” So even widow of Ahmet Kaya, who is most to gain financially, is undecided on this issue. Ahmet Kaya’s producer said even though Ahmet Kaya’s song shares a common well known pattern the melody is unique. The controversy was covered in mass media in UK, USA and Turkey. Adele or her spokesperson did not comment on this issue. What do you think?

Ve kazanan Willie Dixon, kendisine tam şarkı sözü hakları verildi. Mahkeme kararına göre bu intihaldi. Karar doğru muydu, ne düşünüyorsunuz?

John Lennon stated in an interview that he was inspired by Chuck Berry song. This controversy led to a series of lawsuits and counter-suits. Lennon and Morris Levy (publisher of the song) ultimately came to a deal: Lennon would record songs which Levy owned. According to the deal John Lennon’s solo album Rock ‘n’ Roll included two songs owned by Levy: “Ya Ya” and “You Can’t Catch Me.” “Come Together” was one of John Lennon’s favorite songs, and he denied any plagiarism and was angry about it. According to Lennon he intentionally kept the two similar lines in the lyrics, and said “if plagiarism was my intention I could have easily modified them”. Chuck Berry and John Lennon were good friends, appeared in a TV concert together. What do you think?

And the winner is Chuck Berry with full ownership granted by the court. Court ruled as plagiarism. What do you think?

And the winner is Gordon Jenkins. In 1971, Johnny Cash paid songwriter Gordon Jenkins an out-of-court settlement of US $75,000 for plagiarizing liberally from Jenkins’ 1953 song “Crescent ity Blues,” for Cash’s 1955 single “Folsom Prison Blues”. What do you think?

Court verdict George Harrison had committed “subconscious” plagiarism and George had to buy the whole publishing company that owned the song for over half million dollars. What do you think? What I think? The melodies may be related but the songs are very different.

Never made it to courts. What do you think?