Coldplay and Joe Satriani settle lawsuit

Satriani's case against Chris Martin and co is settled
Satriani's case against Chris Martin and co is settled (Image credit: JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT/epa/Corbis)

Joe Satriani's lawsuit against the band Coldplay, based on his claim that Chris Martin and co plagiarized his 2004 song If I Could Fly for their 2008 single Viva La Vida, has been dismissed from court.

Satriani brought a lawsuit against Coldplay last December, alleging that the band copied "substantial original portions" of his composition for their Grammy-winning song, and sought a jury trial to award him monetary compensation.

"I felt like a dagger went right through my heart. It hurt so much," Satriani told MusicRadar exclusively last year. "The second I heard it, I knew it was [my own] If I Could Fly.

"Almost immediately, from the minute their song came out, my e-mail box flooded with people going, 'Have you heard this song by Coldplay? They ripped you off man.' I mean, I couldn't tell you how many e-mails I received."

Out-of-court settlement reached?

According to News.justia.com, the case was dismissed yesterday (14 September) in California Central District Court "upon stipulation," suggesting that an out-of-court settlement may have been reached.

MusicRadar contacted Satriani's attorney, Howard E King, who said, "No comment. The case has been dismissed."

Judge Dean Pregerson decreed that both the parties bear their own trial costs as the case was closed.

In unrelated Joe Satriani news, the RIAA has just certified Chickenfoot's self-titled debut album as Gold, having shipped 500,000 copies.

Joe Bosso

Joe is a freelance journalist who has, over the past few decades, interviewed hundreds of guitarists for Guitar WorldGuitar PlayerMusicRadar and Classic Rock. He is also a former editor of Guitar World, contributing writer for Guitar Aficionado and VP of A&R for Island Records. He’s an enthusiastic guitarist, but he’s nowhere near the likes of the people he interviews. Surprisingly, his skills are more suited to the drums. If you need a drummer for your Beatles tribute band, look him up.