Following her wedding to Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift received more good news when she won her months-long plagiarism lawsuit.
Photo: Reuters
Bringing an end to the days of controversy.
The lawsuit, initiated by Kimberly Marasco, targets Taylor Swift and entities such as Republic Records and Universal Music Group. The plaintiff alleges that the 36-year-old star copied numerous details from her poetry collection and incorporated them into songs on her hit album, The Tortured Poets Department , released in 2024, most notably the two hits "Down Bad" and " I Can Do It with a Broken Heart ."
However, Judge Aileen Cannon, who presided over the case, rejected Marasco's arguments. According to the ruling, the plaintiff failed to provide convincing evidence that her poetry was a legally protected form of expression, or that Taylor Swift had prior access to these works.
Judge Cannon emphasized that the similarities cited were limited to abstract concepts, themes, metaphors, or individual words—elements that are not within the scope of copyright protection.
To clarify, the court provided specific examples of the alleged plagiarism, such as images of "facing adversity," "being psychologically manipulated," or "submerged underwater." The court argued that these were universal emotions and imagery in art and could not be the basis for accusations of plagiarism.
Prior to this decision, the court had dismissed the initial lawsuit last September. In the amended lawsuit, Marasco herself admitted that what she considered "copying" was in fact merely "reinterpretation" or "rewriting with minor changes."
Judge Cannon argued that Marasco's reasoning was self-contradictory and did not demonstrate any significant similarities between the works. With this permanent rejection, Marasco no longer has the right to amend or resubmit the lawsuit.
Currently, neither Taylor Swift's representatives nor the record labels involved have issued any official comments on the court's ruling. Meanwhile, Ms. Marasco shared via email that she disagrees with the outcome and expresses her intention to appeal.
Double the joy for Taylor Swift
The news of her victory in the lawsuit came to the "country music princess" during a period of overflowing happiness. On July 3rd, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, the football star of the Kansas City Chiefs, held a private wedding ceremony at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan (USA).
The closure of the plagiarism lawsuit is seen as a great morale boost, allowing Taylor Swift to feel more at ease, free from legal troubles right after her big day. At 36, she not only maintains her peak musical performance but is also enjoying a fulfilling life with her partner. Fans are now hoping the artist will focus entirely on new artistic projects.