Jury Finds Led Zeppelin Didn’t Steal ‘Stairway’ Riff

Led Zeppelin won’t have to share royalties from one of rock’s masterpieces after a jury found guitarist Jimmy Page and singer Robert Plant didn’t steal the opening riff of “Stairway to Heaven” from an obscure 1968 instrumental (Skidmore v. Led Zeppelinjury verdict).

A jury of four men and four women unanimously rejected the claim that “Stairway to Heaven” incorporated unique and original elements of Spirit’s “Taurus” track, even while the panel agreed evidence showed that Page and Plant would have been familiar with the Southern California group’s song.

The verdict came shortly after jurors were allowed by the judge ...