Jake Holmes is taking legal action against Jimmy Page once again, demanding rightful songwriting credit for the iconic Led Zeppelin track “Dazed and Confused.” In a surprising turn of events, he has also included the Sony Pictures film studio among several co-defendants after discovering that the track was inaccurately credited in the documentary Becoming Led Zeppelin. This misattribution has sparked a renewed controversy surrounding the rightful ownership of the song’s composition and its history.

The legal complaint was officially submitted in a California federal court and brings to light serious allegations of copyright infringement and breach of contract. Holmes asserts that two early live renditions of the song were incorporated into the film without obtaining the necessary permissions or compensating him for their use. This raises significant questions about the ethical practices surrounding music rights and the importance of proper credit in the music industry.

According to the lawsuit, Page and his co-defendants “willfully infringed the Holmes composition by falsely claiming that the Holmes composition is the Page composition.” This statement highlights their alleged actions of licensing the song’s use in the film while misrepresenting its authorship, which not only misleads the audience but also resulted in them collecting license fees for what was originally Holmes’ work. The implications of this case could have broader ramifications for artists seeking recognition in similar disputes.

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Holmes has expressed frustration over the fact that an earlier cease-and-desist order was blatantly ignored. Initially, he filed a copyright infringement lawsuit back in 2011 after Page claimed exclusive credit for the song over several decades, first with the Yardbirds and then with Led Zeppelin. The long-standing issue of credit and recognition in the music industry continues to plague many artists, and Holmes’ situation sheds light on the complexities of these disputes. Page’s former bandmate, Jim McCarty, noted that they first encountered Holmes’ original work when he opened for the group, further emphasizing the song’s journey.

In a reflection on the song’s origins, McCarty remarked in 2013, “‘Dazed and Confused’ is a song with a great rock ‘n’ roll story.” He recounted the experience of playing with Jake Holmes in New York during the last lineup of the Yardbirds—featuring Jimmy, Keith [Relf], Chris [Dreja] and himself—while they were exploring new material, as the group’s creative synergy had diminished following the departures of Paul Samwell-Smith and Jeff [Beck]. This period was critical for the band as they sought fresh inspiration amidst changes in their lineup.

McCarty further elaborated, “I wandered backstage to watch the support act and heard some quite pleasant folky songs.” His memory of Holmes’ performance vividly includes the moment they played a song in a minor key featuring a haunting guitar arrangement. He immediately recognized its potential fit for their sound. This realization prompted him to purchase Holmes’ album from a record store in Greenwich Village so they could develop their own rendition, which eventually led to Led Zeppelin recording it, solidifying its status as one of the greatest classics in rock history.

Holmes’ legal complaint also pointed out that Page has released multiple live interpretations of “Dazed and Confused” without giving proper acknowledgement or compensation, including performances on Yardbirds ’68, Live at the BBC Revisited, and The Yardbirds: The Ultimate Live at the BBC, among others. This pattern of behavior raises serious concerns over artistic integrity and recognition within the music industry. Holmes is now pursuing damages amounting to at least $150,000 for each instance of copyright infringement, which could significantly impact Page’s ongoing legacy.

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