Judge dismisses Taylor Swift copyright lawsuit by using Taylor Swift's own lyrics

Taylor Swift on her 1989 World Tour
Photo: Bob Levey/Getty Images

Judge Gail Standish’s got jokes.

The U.S. District Court Judge dismissed a copyright lawsuit against Taylor Swift by using her own lyrics. Musician Jessie Braham has accused Swift of stealing “Shake It Off” lyrics from his song “Haters Gonna Hate,” and attested that he had the song copyrighted back in February. Braham was suing Swift for $42 million in damages and a writing credit on her hit song.

But Standish dismissed the case this week and in her dismissal she wrote, “At present, the Court is not saying that Braham can never, ever, ever get his case back in court. But, for now, we have got problems, and the Court is not sure Braham can solve them.”

And later, “As currently drafted, the Complaint has a blank space — one that requires Braham to do more than write his name. And, upon consideration of the Court’s explanation … Braham may discover that mere pleading BandAids will not fix the bullet holes in his case. At least for the moment, Defendants have shaken off this lawsuit.”

‘Twas the court document heard ’round the world as Swift fans noticed she quoted Swift’s songs, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” “Bad Blood,” “Blank Space,” and “Shake It Off.”

Swift currently has copyrights to “This sick beat,” another often quotes line in “Shake It Off.”

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