Taylor Swift Not Found to Have Infringed on Copyright in ‘The Tortured Poets Department’
Taylor Swift is facing no substantiated claims of copyright infringement regarding musical elements in her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, according to musicologist Dr.Joe Bennett. The debate arose following accusations that SwiftS track “fortnight” borrowed from the Jackson 5’s 1969 hit “I Want You Back,” and that other songs on the album contained similarities to existing works. Bennett’s analysis, however, suggests Swift utilized common musical tropes and production techniques prevalent during the disco and funk eras, negating the need for interpolation credits.
The controversy highlights the increasingly scrutinized landscape of modern music production, where the line between inspiration and imitation is often blurred. Swift’s prolific output and meticulous attention to detail have made her a frequent subject of such analysis, with potential legal and reputational ramifications for both the artist and any claimants. The outcome of these assessments could influence future music creation and the standards for crediting musical influences.
Bennett specifically addressed the comparison to “I Want You Back,” stating, “Every funky guitar player knows licks like this.” He further pointed to a range of popular songs from the 1970s and 80s employing similar musical elements,including Earth,Wind & Fire’s “September” and “shining Star,” Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough,” the Bee Gees’ “Jive Talkin’,” and Taste of Honey’s “Boogie Oogie Oogie.”
According to Bennett, Swift’s use of these elements falls within the realm of commonplace musical practice. “She’s just using commonplace musical elements and having fun with production tropes,” he explained. He contrasted this with instances where Swift has chosen to interpolate another artist’s work,citing “Look What You Made Me do” and “Father Figure” as examples where she provided intentional credit.
