Date: 06-22-1999

Case Style: ZZ Top, et al. v. Chrysler Corporation

Case Number: 98-CV-0940

Judge: Robert S. Lasnik

Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Washington

Plaintiff's Attorney: Joseph D. Schleimer, Beverly Hills, California; Charles W. Wiggins and Kenneth W. Masters of Wiggins Law Offices, Bainbridge Island, Washington

Defendant's Attorney: Harry H. Schneider, Jr. and Susan Donnelly Fahringer of Perkins Cole, Seattle, Washington

Description: Copyright Infringement Claim - Plaintiffs asserted, without contradiction, that defendant Chryslver Corporation copied and used parts of plaintiffs' song, La Grange, as a soundtrack to a promotions video for the new Plymouth Prowler and as background music when the Prowler was introduced at a press event in January, 1996.

Chrysler conceded that it copied La Grange, but challenged the originality and copyrightability of La Grange.

Chrysler asserted that the guitar riff in La Grange is substantially similar to that used in earlier musical compositions, such as John Lee Hooker's Boogie Chillen and Norman Greenbaum's Spirit in the Sky.

Outcome: Summary judgment in plaintiffs' favor.

Plaintiff's Experts: Unknown

Defendant's Experts: Unknown

Comments: For more information about this case, see: 54 F.Supp.2d 983 (W.D.Wash. 1999).