@Lizard: But the Bittersweet Symphony fiasco was about the use of Richard Ashcroft's SAMPLING of copyrighted material, not simply creating a riff that SOUNDED like the Stone's tune. Based on some of the things I've read, Ashcroft was strongly advised to alter the sample in some way (because of the plagiarism risk), shape or form, but he refused.

Anyway, not to hijack the original thread...I think you'll know when you've crossed that line from "being inspired by..." vs. "ripping off from...". There is VERY LITTLE that is truly original in art. Nearly everything creative owes itself, at least in part, to those who inspired the artist to begin with.

Cheers!