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Home / Entertainment

Judge quotes Taylor Swift lyrics in plagiarism case

Herald online
13 Nov, 2015 05:00 AM2 mins to read

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Taylor Swift has won her case ... and a new fan. Photo / AP

Taylor Swift has won her case ... and a new fan. Photo / AP

A District Court judge has quoted Taylor Swift song lyrics while dismissing a copycat case over the pop star's hit song Shake It Off.

Judge Gail Standish used lyrics from several Swift songs while throwing out the case from R&B singer Jesse Braham, who sued Swift over claims she stole his lyrics for Shake It Off, reported The Daily Mail.

Braham had sought US$42 million (NZ$64m) and a songwriting credit claiming the lyrics were too similar to his, but Standish had a unique way of dismissing his suit.

"At present, the Court is not saying that Braham can never, ever, ever get his case back in court. But, for now, we have got problems, and the Court is not sure Braham can solve them," Standish wrote, appropriating Swift's lyrics from her song Bad Blood.

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She went on to reference lyrics from Blank Space and Shake It Off.

"As currently drafted, the Complaint has a blank space - one that requires Braham to do more than write his name".

"And, upon consideration of the Court's explanation ... Braham may discover that mere pleading BandAids will not fix the bullet holes in his case," The Daily Mail quoted Standish as saying.

"At least for the moment, Defendants have shaken off this lawsuit."

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Braham, an R&B singer, performs as Jesse Graham and claimed his song Haters Gonna Hate was copyrighted in 2013.

- nzherald.co.nz

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