A representative for Gollum-esque guitar-soloer Joe Satriani tells Billboard that the rocker has settled his lawsuit with English soft-rock quartet Coldplay, in which he'd alleged the band had stolen the melody for its iPod-selling 2008 single "Viva la Vida" from his 2004 instrumental smash hit "If I Could Fly." (Although "Vida" was also purportedly written by Cat Stevens and Brooklyn band the Creaky Boards before Coldplay, Satriani was the only one who thought to sue.) Details of the settlement will remain sealed, but Billboard says Coldplay will not be required to admit to any wrongdoing, and "a financial settlement between the two parties may have been reached." We hope this will serve as a warning to other musicians thinking about being influenced by Joe Satriani.

Coldplay, Satriani Copyright Lawsuit Dismissed [Billboard]