Taylor Swift copyright lawsuit dismissed by judge using lyrics from her songs

Safe to say she shook that one off

Apple Music changed their artist payment policy after Taylor Swift's angry open letter (Getty Images)

A judge has dismissed a copyright case against Taylor Swift by using the singer’s lyrics in her conclusion.

R&B singer Jesse Braham filed the $42 million lawsuit, alleging that Swift ripped the chorus for “Shake It Off” from his song “Haters Gonna Hate”. The two songs sound nothing like like each other, but Graham insisted that “her hook is the same as [his]” and claimed that 92 per cent of Swift’s hit came from his.

Swift sings: “Cos the players gonna play, play, play, play, play and the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate and the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fake.”

Braham’s track features the lyrics: “Haters gonna hate, playas gonna play, watch out for them fakers, they'll fake you everyday.”

Before taking legal action, Graham asked Swift’s management if his name could be added as a co-writing credit on “Shake It Off” along with writers Max Martin and Shellback. He added that a selfie with Swift wouldn’t go a miss, either, but Team Tay responded with a firm no.

United States District Court Judge Gail Standish ruled that Braham could not provide enough factual evidence against Swift and appeared to be merely speculating.

She brought a comic twist to the lawsuit, concluding it with the following passage drawing on Swift’s songs “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”, “Bad Blood” and “Black Space”:

“At present, the Court is not saying that Braham can never, ever, ever get his case back in court. But, for now, we have got problems, and the court is not sure Braham can solve them.

“As currently drafted, the Complaint has a blank space - one that requires Braham to do more than write his name. And, upon consideration of the Court’s explanation, Braham may discover that mere pleading BandAids will not fix bullet holes in his case.

“At least for the moment, Defendants have shaken off this lawsuit.”