We run down 12 landmark copyright cases in music history, from the Beach Boys vs. Chuck Berry to Lana Del Rey vs. Western music is made up of just 12 notes, which yield a practically infinite number of songs. Read on for 12 of the most infamous copyright infringement cases in pop music history. From lyrical lifts and unlicensed sampling, to melodies that sound just a tad too similar, there are many points of contention. Are the original artists looking out for their intellectual property or their bank balance? The jury is. Inspired froom Berry’s rapid-fire references to various American cities, he recast the song as a paean to a fun-in-the-sun sport.