Feels Like Theft?
You must watch the video below. It’s a very powerful use of YouTube to call attention to a pop culture/law collision! An Arizona band, The Asphalt, asks us to consider whether a producer stole the hook from their song, “Tonight,” and used it in Chris Daughtry’s “Feels Like Tonight.”
Most impressive is what appears to be an absence of defamation. The band doesn’t accuse the producer of stealing. Instead, the video simply asks viewers/listeners to decide for themselves. As you do so, consider that the legal question includes whether the two works are “substantially similar.”
Yeah, it’s a crazy vague term, so do your best and let Popsquire know what you think!
These issues are always so difficult to resolve. Every time a case like this shows any merit it is settled out of court and usually in a sealed manner. No one likes to gamble on these matters and the rulings tend to be unpredictable and rare.
It will be interesting to see what, if anything, comes of this.