Taylor Swift Defends ‘Shake It Off’ Copyright Lawsuit Again
Taylor Swift is denying allegations of copyright infringement on her 2014 hit track “Shake It Off” once more, marking this the second time the singer-songwriter has to defend the lyrics for the song.
“The lyrics to ‘Shake It Off’ were written entirely by me,” Swift, 32, said in her declaration filed Monday (August 8).
Per the Independent, the copyright lawsuit was originally filed in 2017 but later dropped. However, after it was appealed one year later, a judge recently ruled that the case would go to trial and be decided by a jury. The claim was filed by songwriters Sean Hall and Nathan Butler, who are accusing Swift of plagiarizing their 2001 track “Playas Gon’ Play” for band 3WL.
However, Swift claims that she didn’t even know the song existed saying, “The first time I ever heard the song was after this claim was made.” In the declaration, Swift denies that she stole any lyrical content, using childhood stories to support her point. “I recall hearing phrases about players play and haters hate stated together by other children while attending school in Wyomissing Hills, and in high school in Hendersonville,” Swift said.
She argued that these popular phrases had inspired lyrics for the song, pointing out that it was unrealistic for people to claim ownsherhip of sayings that are universal in society. “I also recall hearing similar player and hater phrases in many songs, films and other works prior to ‘Shake it Off,'” she said.
Swift said co-writers Max Martin and Shellback made the melody and drumbeat, respectively, while she ad-libbed the lyrics. The co-writers also denied hearing the 3LW song prior to the lawsuit.
Meanwhile, Swift fans are divided over her private jet usage, after the star was revealed as having the highest Co2 emissions out of any celebrity this year.
