Taylor Swift defeats Florida poet's plagiarism lawsuit

A federal judge on Monday dismissed a lawsuit accusing pop superstar Taylor Swift of plagiarizing phrases from a Florida woman's poetry books for several songs.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that plaintiff Kimberly Marasco failed to prove that her poems contained protected creative expression or that Swift had access to the works and produced songs that were substantially similar.

Marasco, who represented herself in the case, said she disagreed with the ruling and plans to appeal. Attorneys for Swift and other defendants, including Universal Music Group and Republic Records, did not immediately comment.

The lawsuit alleged that Swift copied elements from Marasco's poetry books for songs including "Down Bad" and "I Can Do It with a Broken Heart," both featured on Swift's 2024 album The Tortured Poets Department.

Cannon said any similarities between Marasco's poems and Swift's songs involved only general ideas, themes, metaphors, and individual words that are not protected by copyright law. She cited examples such as references to overcoming hardship, being "gaslighted," and feeling "submerged" underwater.

The judge had previously dismissed an earlier version of Marasco's complaint in September but allowed her to submit additional allegations. In Monday's ruling, Cannon said the updated claims still failed to show substantial similarity, noting that Marasco herself described the alleged copying as paraphrasing, rewording, and using minor word changes.

The dismissal was issued with prejudice, meaning Marasco cannot file an amended complaint.

Swift, 36, recently married Travis Kelce, also 36, at Madison Square Garden on July 3. Kelce is a star tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs.

-Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by David Gaffen/Reuters