What is the George Harrison / My Sweet Lord case about?

What is the George Harrison / My Sweet Lord case about?

• A. Harrison was found to have copied melody from He's So Fine; strict liability applies; intent doesn't matter; he lost.
• B. A contract dispute over publishing rights.
• C. A dispute over lyrical copyright.
• D. A case about performance royalties.

Answer: (A)

The main idea tested is that copyright infringement in music can happen even without intent. In this famous case, the melody of George Harrison’s My Sweet Lord was found to be substantially similar to the Chiffons’ He's So Fine, and Harrison was held liable for copying it. The court emphasized that you don’t need to intend to copy to infringe; copying can occur subconsciously, and intent doesn’t excuse infringement as long as the melody is substantially similar and there was access to the original work. The result was liability and damages for the copyright owner. This isn’t about publishing rights, lyrics, or performance royalties. Those issues involve different rights, not the melodic copyright dispute at the heart of this case.

The main idea tested is that copyright infringement in music can happen even without intent. In this famous case, the melody of George Harrison’s My Sweet Lord was found to be substantially similar to the Chiffons’ He's So Fine, and Harrison was held liable for copying it. The court emphasized that you don’t need to intend to copy to infringe; copying can occur subconsciously, and intent doesn’t excuse infringement as long as the melody is substantially similar and there was access to the original work. The result was liability and damages for the copyright owner.

This isn’t about publishing rights, lyrics, or performance royalties. Those issues involve different rights, not the melodic copyright dispute at the heart of this case.