12 Controversial Songs That Were Stolen

10. 'Whole Lotta Love' - Led Zeppelin

Where It Was Stolen From: 'Willie Dixon's You Need Love' - Muddy Waters

At first listen, these songs are quite distinct from one another, but it doesn't take a musicologist to notice the striking similarities between the vocal melodies and lyrics.

The claim here wasn't copyright infringement, but that Led Zep had created a derivative work of Dixon's 'You Need Love'. The court agreed and Willie Dixon has been credited as a co-writer ever since.

Contributor
Contributor

Freelance writer, contributing to The Huffington Post and a variety of blogs. Banned from Crufts, inventor of the Gareth Bale salary outrage calculator and one-time consumer affairs advocate. Resident of Manchester, UK.

Contributor
Contributor

WhatCulture's former COO, veteran writer and editor.