That case and others raised serious questions about the legal protections available for music: When does homage become plagiarism? When does a common chord progression become one songwriter’s property? Songwriters and producers worried that their next hit could make them the target of a lawsuit. But the tide may be changing, after two court decisions this month addressed important aspects of how copyright applies to music.
Source: The ‘Blurred Lines’ Case Scared Songwriters. But Its Time May Be Up.