Joe Satriani, Coldplay Copyright Lawsuit Dismissed

Guitar hero Joe Satriani and British pop-rock band Coldplay have settled their legal entanglements and the guitarist's lawsuit alleging copyright infringement has been dismissed, Satriani's representative confirmed to Billboard today. While details of the case remain sealed, legal sources tell Billboard a financial settlement between the two parties may have been reached. Coldplay will not be required to admit to any wrongdoing.

Last December, Satriani filed a lawsuit against the members of Coldplay and Capitol Records, alleging the band's song, "Viva La Vida," contained "substantial, original portions" of his 2004 track "If I Could Fly."

"I felt like a dagger went right through my heart. It hurt so much," Satriani told website Music Radar at the time . "The second I heard it, I knew it was [my own] 'If I Could Fly'.

"Almost immediately, from the minute their song came out, my e-mail box flooded with people going, 'Have you heard this song by Coldplay? They ripped you off man.' I mean, I couldn't tell you how many e-mails I received. Everybody noticed the similarities between the songs. It's pretty obvious."

Coldplay denied the allegations.

"If there are any similarities between our two pieces of music, they are entirely coincidental, and just as surprising to us as to him," the band said in a statement at the time.

Over the summer, Satriani - who was on tour with his Chickenfoot supergroup with Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, and Chad Smith - was reluctant to discuss details of the negotiations.

"You know it's one of those things that's annoying to talk about because I can't talk about it," he told Billboard. "But I can tell you that the legal system is going through it's paces, the protocols are all being met and it's making its way between various law offices and the courts. I'm pretty confident that there will be an equitable solution reached at some point."

According to court documents posted at justia.com, the case came to a conclusion yesterday. Through his representative, Satriani declined to comment on today's developments.