Elton John Asks Judge To Throw Out Baseless Copyright Lawsuit

Elton John and writing partner Bernie Taupin are being used by a songwriter who claims their 1985 hit song Nikita blatantly stole his themes and words.

John is asking that the lawsuit filed by songwriter Guy Hobbs be thrown out of court because it has no grounds to move forward.

The copyright lawsuit was filed in April at which time Guy Hobbs claimed the hit song was written and recorded without his knowledge.

In the song, Elton John sings about a western man falling in love with a Russian women. Hobbs claims that theme belongs to him but Elton argues that you can’t copyright such a common theme as a western man falling for a Russian woman.

The lawsuit also claims that Elton stole the words “I need you” which are found inside Nikita’s chorus. Hobbs also says the use of “just” and “never” were taken from his own original composition.

In responding to the lawsuit Elton John’s lawyers wrote:

“The suggestion that the Grammy-Award winning composer/lyricist team of Elton John and Bernie Taupin … would need to copy these commonplace elements from [Hobbs’] lyrics is not only baseless and absurd, but it also misses the essential legal point.”

Copyright does not protect an “idea,” and it seems as if Hobbs’ entire lawsuit is based around that premise.

In the end, Elton Johns’ legal team claims the lawsuit is so vague in its scope that it should be dismissed immediately.

A judge has not yet ruled on the status of the lawsuit.

[Image via Massimiliano Lamagna / Shutterstock.com]