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Cameo Clips

By Stan Soocher
August 02, 2013

Elton John Song “Nikita” Not Substantially Similar to Plaintiff's Composition “Natasha”

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit found no substantial similarity between plaintiff Guy Hobbs' song “Natasha” and the Elton John/Bernie Taupin composition “Nikita.” Hobbs v. John, 12-3652. “Natasha” is about Hobbs' brief affair with a Russian waitress. “Nikita” portrays the protagonist's sighting of a woman behind a geo-political “Cold War” wall about whom he sings of the unlikelihood of a relationship. Hobbs sent his song, without result, to Big Pig Music, which publishes John/Taupin compositions. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois dismissed Hobbs' copyright infringement suit against John, Taupin and Big Pig.

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