Korn, Tool, Judas Priest stand behind Led Zeppelin in ‘Stairway To Heaven’ copyright case

123 artists have submitted a brief fo San Francisco court in the closely watched copyright case over the opening guitar riff of Led Zeppelin's ‘Stairway To Heaven’. The case was brought to court by a descendant of Randy Craig Wolfe, former band member and songwriter of Spirit, whose song 'Taurus' Led Zeppelin have allegedly ripped off. Artist explain in the amicus brief they “have a significant interest” in the case since the court decision would have an affect "on all songwriters, composers, musicians and producers in the United States and around the world”, as Digital Music News reports. Should the court rule in favor of Spirit's trustee, it would “cause substantial confusion” because it would mean that the "very common use of any ‘descending chromatic scales, arpeggios or short sequences of three notes,’ or any elements in the ‘public domain,’ could form the basis of an infringement action”. Listen to beginnings of the two songs below.