Background
John Fogerty was the singer and songwriter for the band Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR). In 1970, he wrote a song called Run Through the Jungle – but his record label owned the copyright.
Years later, in 1985, Fogerty released a solo song called The Old Man Down the Road.
The old record label said it sounded too much like Run Through the Jungle and sued him — even though he had written both songs!
What the Court Said...
The court decided Fogerty’s new song was different enough. You can’t copyright a style — and an artist can’t steal from their own way of writing.
The Twist
After he won, the record label wanted him to pay their legal fees.
Fogerty fought back and the US Supreme Court said: if you win a copyright case, you can ask the other side to pay your legal costs — not the other way around. Fogerty did not have to pay!
