Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift has secured a significant legal victory after a US federal court dismissed a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by poet Kimberly Marasco, who had accused the pop star of copying elements of her poetry in several songs.
The ruling brings an end to the case at the trial court level, with the judge concluding that the claims did not establish copyright infringement under US law.
Poet Alleged Songs Copied Her Work
Kimberly Marasco filed the lawsuit alleging that Taylor Swift had incorporated portions of her poetry into songs including The Man and The Great War.
In February 2025, Marasco submitted an amended complaint that named Swift along with Republic Records, Universal Music Group, and other parties as defendants.
She claimed that similarities between her poems and Swift’s lyrics amounted to copyright infringement.
Court Dismisses the Case
US District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice, meaning the case cannot be refiled in the same court.
In the ruling, the judge stated that the alleged similarities identified by the plaintiff consisted of common themes, ideas, and ordinary phrases, which are not protected under US copyright law.
The court further found that the complaint failed to identify any specific original creative expression that had been unlawfully copied. As a result, the judge concluded that the allegations did not meet the legal standard required for a copyright infringement claim.
Taylor Swift’s Wedding Day Overshadowed by Death of Former Mentor and Father Figure
Swift’s Legal Team Had Challenged the Claims
Before the court’s decision, Taylor Swift’s lawyers had argued that the lawsuit lacked a valid legal basis and asked the court to dismiss the case.
Following the ruling, Swift’s representatives did not issue a public statement on the outcome.
Kimberly Marasco, however, said she disagrees with the court’s decision and intends to appeal the ruling.
Victory Comes After Major Personal Milestone
The legal victory comes shortly after a widely reported milestone in Taylor Swift’s personal life following her recent marriage to NFL star Travis Kelce.
According to the report, the couple, who began dating in 2023 and became engaged in 2025, were married on July 3, 2026, at Madison Square Garden in New York.
While the lawsuit and Swift’s personal life are unrelated, the court’s decision marks the latest legal success for the singer, who has previously defended her work against various copyright claims over the course of her career.
