‘U2 stole my song’ – British musician’s claims in €4.7m lawsuit against band

New York-based plaintiff Paul Rose has filed a lawsuit in a Manhattan federal court against the band and Island Records. The guitarist and lyricist claims the band lifted multiple elements of his song ‘Nae Slappin’ for their song ‘The Fly’. He is alleging the songs are “substantially similar” and that an infringement has occurred. “An ordinary lay observer would reasonably find the songs are substantially similar and an infringement has occurred,” Rose claimed in his lawsuit.