Coldplay Still Not A Copycat

Attorneys for the British rock band said any similarities between Coldplay’s 2008 tune “Viva La Vida” and Satriani’s “If I Could Fly” weren’t enough to warrant damages.

The response filed in court said Satriani’s song “lacks originality” and shouldn’t receive copyright protection.

Satriani filed a copyright infringement suit against Coldplay Dec.4, accusing the band of stealing “substantial original portions” of “If I Could Fly.”

The guitarist’s suit seeks a jury trial, damages and “any and all profits attributable to the alleged copyright infringement.”

Dec.9, Coldplay responded to the lawsuit with the following statement on the band’s Web site:

“If there are any similarities between our two pieces of music, they are entirely coincidental, and just as surprising to us as to him. Joe Satriani is a great musician, but he did not write or have any influence on the song ‘Viva La Vida.’ We respectfully ask him to accept our assurances of this and wish him well with all future endeavours.”

“Viva La Vida” was Coldplay’s first number-one single, reaching the top of the charts in the U.K. and U.S. It also snagged the band a Grammy Award for Song of the Year in February at the 51st Grammy Awards.

Coldplay is currently touring North America with dates through August. After that the guys will be rockin’ Europe with shows through late September.

Satriani is hanging out with former Van Halen members Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony, and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith as new supergroup Chickenfoot. In June the band heads to Europe for a spring tour.

Read the AP story here.

Click here to check out Coldplay’s Web site.