The Beatles' George Harrison was sued for copyright infringement over his 1970 hit "My Sweet Lord." The song's melody and lyrics were found to be too similar to the Chiffons' 1963 hit "He's So Fine." Harrison claimed that he had not heard the Chiffons' song when he wrote "My Sweet Lord," but the judge ruled against him. Harrison was ordered to pay the Chiffons $1.6 million in damages.
The "My Sweet Lord" case was a landmark decision in copyright law. It established the principle that even subconscious copying of another's work can be considered copyright infringement. The case also had a chilling effect on the music industry, as many artists became more cautious about using similar melodies or lyrics in their songs.
In 1976, Harrison settled the lawsuit with the Chiffons for an undisclosed amount of money. He also agreed to donate the proceeds from "My Sweet Lord" to the Material World Charitable Foundation, which he had established to help impoverished people in India.