Judges may not be buying that 'Stairway' needs new trial

A group of US judges don't seem inclined to order a new trial in a copyright fight over the Led Zeppelin song, "Stairway to Heaven."

Members of an 11-judge panel at a hearing before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco harshly challenged plaintiffs who argued that a new trial is justified in the lawsuit that alleged 1971's megahit "Stairway" was stolen from 1968's "Taurus," by Spirit.

The estate of the late Randy Wolfe of Spirit lost at a 2016 trial, but a three-judge 9th Circuit panel earlier this year ordered a new trial and Led Zeppelin appealed to the larger group of judges.

Plaintiffs' attorney Francis Malofiy argued the copyrighted composition of "Taurus" should include the song as performed, not merely as written on paper. Judges were skeptical.