Robert Plant stealing the "squeeze my lemon" line from Robert Johnson is plagiarism, as well as many other documented lifting of riffs and lyrics from other blues standards.
This is inspiration, at most. I've heard before, people saying Stairway was stolen from Spirit. If this is it, I'm not impressed in the least. Then again, I wasn't impressed with the claims that George Harrison stole My Sweet Lord from He's So Fine, but at least that was ever so slightly more convincing.
I can't see how it is, re; "Stairway". The only similarity is a four-chord arpeggiated progression. Nothing that comes before or after it is similar in any way. And it is a common half-step chromatic root-note progression to boot - something that is used in all kinds of songs. If those sort of similarities are going to start being picked apart for derivative use claims, damn near half of the history of rock-n-roll will be suspect.
...I don't see how this four-chord progression by Zep would be considered to be - unless somehow there's proof that Page heard the original, and copied it on purpose.
They assert that Page stole the tune—particularly the guitar chords—from Spirit’s instrumental song "Taurus," which the late Wolfe wrote. While Zeppelin toured with them in 1968, Page was able to become familiar with their music. As a result, they discredit the story of how Page wrote “Stairway” while secluded in a remote cabin in Wales.
...I don't see how this four-chord progression by Zep would be considered to be - unless somehow there's proof that Page heard the original, and copied it on purpose.
Actually, that's one of the specific charges... (http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Led-Zeppelin-Faces-Pennsylvania-Lawsuit-Over-Stairway-279720172.html)QuoteThey assert that Page stole the tune—particularly the guitar chords—from Spirit’s instrumental song "Taurus," which the late Wolfe wrote. While Zeppelin toured with them in 1968, Page was able to become familiar with their music. As a result, they discredit the story of how Page wrote “Stairway” while secluded in a remote cabin in Wales.
Not saying it's a valid claim or anything.