Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page Finally Settles Jake Holmes Copyright Dispute
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Singer-songwriter Jake Holmes and Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page have reached a settlement in their latest copyright dispute over Dazed and Confused, according to a US court filing on Friday, August 1.
The agreement “resolves the entire case” between the parties, though details of the settlement remain confidential. Holmes filed the lawsuit in California in May, alleging that Page had violated a 2011 settlement acknowledging Holmes as the song’s original composer.
Dispute Over Yardbirds Recordings and Documentary
Holmes’ complaint focused on recently released Yardbirds recordings and their inclusion in the documentary Becoming Led Zeppelin. He claimed Page had released archival Yardbirds performances of the song without proper credit or payment.
He also objected to the track’s use in Sony Pictures’ documentary, where Yardbirds footage credited only Page rather than recognizing Holmes as the original writer.
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Origins of Dazed and Confused
Holmes first wrote and recorded Dazed and Confused in 1967 for his debut album The Above Ground Sound of Jake Holmes. That same year, Holmes opened for The Yardbirds at Greenwich Village’s Village Theater, where Page first heard the song. The Yardbirds began performing it, and Page later reworked it for Led Zeppelin’s 1969 debut album.
The first legal dispute began in 2010, leading to a 2011 settlement. That agreement resulted in Led Zeppelin releases crediting the track as “written by Jimmy Page, inspired by Jake Holmes.”
Alleged Violation of the 2011 Settlement
Holmes claimed the 2011 deal included Page’s acknowledgment that he had “no claim whatsoever to or with respect to the Holmes composition.” However, he argued that later Yardbirds releases continued to credit Page alone, breaking the earlier settlement terms.
The lawsuit sought $150,000 for each alleged violation, naming Page, Warner Chappell Music, Sony Pictures, and the Becoming Led Zeppelin filmmakers as defendants.
Settlement and Next Steps
A filing from Holmes’ legal team stated the parties are “in the process of finalizing a written settlement agreement” and expect to submit a formal dismissal within 30 days. None of the defendants have publicly commented on the case.
This marks another major copyright dispute involving Led Zeppelin’s catalog, following the high-profile Stairway to Heaven case.
