Welcome to the 'Hotel California' case: The trial over handwritten lyrics to an Eagles classic

kAm~? 2 =:?65 J6==@H A25[ s@? w6?=6J[ H:E9 :?AFE 7C@> 32?5 4@\7@F?56C v=6?? uC6J[ ;@EE65 E9@F89ED 23@FE Q2 52C< 56D6CE 9:89H2JQ 2?5 Q2 =@G6=J A=246Q H:E9 2 =FIFC:@FD DFC7246 2?5 @>:?@FD F?56CE@?6D] p?5 D@>6E9:?8 @? :46[ A6C92AD 42G:2C @C %2:EE:?86C — @C A:?< r92>A28?6nk^Am

kAm%96 D@?8[ Qw@E6= r2=:7@C?:2[Q 3642>6 @?6 @7 C@4<VD >@DE :?56=:3=6 D:?8=6D] p?5 ?62C=J 2 92=7\46?EFCJ =2E6C[ E9@D6 92?5HC:EE6? A286D @7 =JC:4D\:?\E96\>2<:?8 92G6 364@>6 E96 46?E6C @7 2? F?FDF2= 4C:>:?2= EC:2= D6E E@ @A6? (65?6D52J]k^Am

kAm#2C6\3@@< 562=6C v=6?? w@C@H:EK[ 7@C>6C #@4< U2>Aj #@== w2== @7 u2>6 4FC2E@C rC2:8 x?4:2C5: 2?5 >6>@C23:=:2 D6==6C t5H2C5 z@D:?D<: 2C6 492C865 H:E9 4@?DA:C:?8 E@ @H? 2?5 ECJ E@ D6== >2?FD4C:AED @7 Qw@E6= r2=:7@C?:2Q 2?5 @E96C t28=6D 9:ED H:E9@FE E96 C:89E E@ 5@ D@]k^Am

kAm%96 E9C66 92G6 A=62565 ?@E 8F:=EJ[ 2?5 E96:C =2HJ6CD 92G6 D2:5 E96 >6? 4@>>:EE65 ?@ 4C:>6 H:E9 E96 A2A6CD[ H9:49 E96J 24BF:C65 G:2 2 HC:E6C H9@V5 H@C<65 H:E9 E96 t28=6D] qFE E96 |2?92EE2? 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6JVD @77:46 D2JD E96 5676?52?ED 4@??:G65 E@ @3D4FC6 E96 5@4F>6?EDV 5:DAFE65 @H?6CD9:A[ 56DA:E6 <?@H:?8 E92E w6?=6J D2:5 E96 A286D H6C6 DE@=6?]k^Am

kAmr=2D96D @G6C G2=F23=6 4@==64E:3=6D 23@F?5[ 3FE 4C:>:?2= EC:2=D =:<6 E9:D 2C6 C2C6] |2?J 7:89ED 2C6 C6D@=G65 :? AC:G2E6[ :? =2HDF:ED @C H:E9 28C66>6?ED E@ C6EFC? E96 :E6>D]k^Am

kAmQx7 J@F 42? 2G@:5 2 AC@D64FE:@? 3J 92?5:?8 @G6C E96 E9:?8[ >@DE A6@A=6 ;FDE 92?5 :E @G6C[Q D2:5 %C2G:D |4s256[ 2 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 x==:?@:D =2H AC@76DD@C H9@ DEF5:6D C2C6 5@4F>6?E 5:DAFE6D]k^Am

kAm~7 4@FCD6[ E96 42D6 @7 E96 t28=6D >2?FD4C:AED :D 5:DE:?4E:G6 :? @E96C H2JD[ E@@]k^Am

kAm%96 AC@D64FE@CDV DE2C H:E?6DD :D :?5665 E92Ei w6?=6J :D 6IA64E65 E@ E6DE:7J 36EH66? t28=6D E@FC DE@AD] %96 ?@?\;FCJ EC:2= 4@F=5 @776C 2 A66< :?E@ E96 32?5VD 4C62E:G6 AC@46DD 2?5 =:76 :? E96 72DE =2?6 @7 Vf_D DE2C5@>]k^Am

kAmpE :DDF6 2C6 @G6C g_ A286D @7 5C27E =JC:4D 7C@> E96 3=@4<3FDE6C `hfe Qw@E6= r2=:7@C?:2Q 2=3F>[ :?4=F5:?8 H@C5D E@ E96 492CE\E@AA:?8[ vC2>>J\H:??:?8 E:E=6 4FE] xE 762EFC6D @?6 @7 4=2DD:4 C@4<VD >@DE C64@8?:K23=6 C:77D[ 36DE\<?@H? D@=@D 2?5 >@DE @7E\BF@E65 — 2C8F23=J @G6CBF@E65 — =:?6Di Q*@F 42? 4964< @FE 2?J E:>6 J@F =:<6[ 3FE J@F 42? ?6G6C =62G6]Qk^Am

kAmw6?=6J 92D D2:5 E96 D@?8 :D 23@FE QE96 52C< F?56C36==J @7 E96 p>6C:42? 5C62>]Qk^Am

kAmxE DE:== H2D DEC62>65 @G6C aa_ >:==:@? E:>6D 2?5 8@E `be[___ C25:@ DA:?D =2DE J62C :? E96 &]$] 2=@?6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 6?E6CE2:?>6?E 52E2 4@>A2?J {F>:?2E6] %96 Qw@E6= r2=:7@C?:2Q 2=3F> 92D D@=5 ae >:==:@? 4@A:6D ?2E:@?H:56 @G6C E96 J62CD[ 36DE65 @?=J 3J 2? t28=6DV 8C62E6DE 9:ED 5:D4 2?5 |:4926= y24<D@?VD Q%9C:==6C]Qk^Am

kAm%96 A286D 2=D@ :?4=F56 =JC:4D 7C@> D@?8D :?4=F5:?8 Q{:76 :? E96 u2DE {2?6Q 2?5 Q}6H z:5 :? %@H?]Q t28=6D >2?286C xCG:?8 pK@77 92D 42==65 E96 5@4F>6?ED Q:CC6A=24623=6 A:646D @7 >FD:42= 9:DE@CJ]Qk^Am

kAmw@C@H:EK[ x?4:2C5: 2?5 z@D:?<: 2C6 492C865 H:E9 4@?DA:C24J E@ A@DD6DD DE@=6? AC@A6CEJ 2?5 G2C:@FD @E96C @776?D6D]k^Am

kAm%96JVC6 ?@E 492C865 H:E9 24EF2==J DE62=:?8 5@4F>6?ED] }@C :D 2?J@?6 6=D6[ 3FE AC@D64FE@CD H:== DE:== 92G6 E@ 6DE23=:D9 E92E E96 5@4F>6?ED H6C6 DE@=6?] %96 5676?D6 >2:?E2:?D E92EVD ?@E ECF6]k^Am

kAm|F49 EFC?D @? E96 t28=6DV :?E6C24E:@?D H:E9 t5 $2?56CD[ 2 HC:E6C H9@ 2=D@ 4@\7@F?565 E96 `he_D 4@F?E6C4F=EFC6 C@4< 32?5 E96 uF8D] w6 H@C<65 :? E96 =2E6 Vf_D 2?5 62C=J Vg_D @? 2? 2FE9@C:K65 t28=6D 3:@8C2A9J E92E H2D ?6G6C AF3=:D965]k^Am

kAm$2?56CD :D?VE 492C865 :? E96 42D6] p A9@?6 >6DD286 D66<:?8 4@>>6?E H2D =67E 7@C 9:>]k^Am

kAmw6 D@=5 E96 A286D E@ w@C@H:EK[ H9@ E96? D@=5 E96> E@ x?4:2C5: 2?5 z@D:?D<:]k^Am

kAmw@C@H:EK 92D 92?5=65 9F86 C2C6 3@@< 2?5 2C49:G6 562=D[ 2?5 96VD 366? 6?E2?8=65 :? D@>6 @H?6CD9:A DA2ED 367@C6] ~?6 :?G@=G65 A2A6CD =:?<65 E@ Qv@?6 (:E9 E96 (:?5Q 2FE9@C |2C82C6E |:E496==] xE H2D D6EE=65]k^Am

kAmx?4:2C5: H@C<65 @? ?@E23=6 6I9:3:E:@?D 7@C E96 r=6G6=2?5\32D65 #@4< w2== @7 u2>6] z@D:?D<: 92D 366? 2 AC:?4:A2= :? v@EE2 w2G6 xEP r@==64E:3=6D[ <?@H? 7@C 2F4E:@?:?8 46=63C:E:6DV A6CD@?2= A@DD6DD:@?D — D@ A6CD@?2= E92E |25@??2 F?DF446DD7F==J DF65 E@ ECJ E@ DE@A 2 D2=6 E92E :?4=F565 96C =2E6I 3C:67D]k^Am

kAmw6?=6J E@=5 2 8C2?5 ;FCJ 96 ?6G6C 82G6 E96 3:@8C2A96C E96 =JC:4D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 4@FCE 7:=:?8D 7C@> z@D:?D<:VD =2HJ6CD] qFE 5676?D6 =2HJ6CD 92G6 D:8?2=65 E92E E96J A=2? E@ AC@36 w6?=6JVD >6>@CJ @7 E96 E:>6]k^Am

kAmQ(6 36=:6G6 E92E |C] w6?=6J G@=F?E2C:=J AC@G:565 E96 =JC:4D E@ |C] $2?56CD[Q 2EE@C?6J $4@EE t56=>2? D2:5 :? 4@FCE =2DE H66<]k^Am

kAm$2?56CD E@=5 w@C@H:EK :? a__d E92E H9:=6 H@C<:?8 @? E96 t28=6D 3@@<[ 96 H2D D6?E H92E6G6C A2A6CD 96 H2?E65 7C@> w6?=6JVD 9@>6 :? |2=:3F[ r2=:7@C?:2[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 :?5:4E>6?E]k^Am

kAm%96? z@D:?D<:VD 3FD:?6DD @776C65 D@>6 A286D 2E 2F4E:@? :? a_`a] w6?=6JVD 2EE@C?6JD 42>6 <?@4<:?8] p?5 w@C@H:EK[ x?4:2C5: 2?5 $2?56CD[ :? G2CJ:?8 4@>3:?2E:@?D[ 3682? 32EE:?8 2C@F?5 2=E6C?2E6 G6CD:@?D @7 E96 >2?FD4C:AEDV AC@G6?2?46[ E96 :?5:4E>6?E D2JD]k^Am

kAmx? @?6 DE@CJ[ $2?56CD 7@F?5 E96 A286D 5:D42C565 :? 2 324<DE286 5C6DD:?8 C@@>] x? @E96CD[ 96 8@E E96> 7C@> 2 DE286 2DD:DE2?E @C H9:=6 2>2DD:?8 Q2 =@E @7 >2E6C:2= C6=2E65 E@ E96 t28=6D 7C@> 5:776C6?E A6@A=6]Q x? J6E 2?@E96C[ 96 @3E2:?65 E96> 7C@> uC6J — 2? 244@F?E E92E QH@F=5 >2<6 E9:D 8@ 2H2J @?46 2?5 7@C 2==[Q w@C@H:EK DF886DE65 :? a_`f] uC6J 925 5:65 E96 J62C 367@C6]k^Am

kAmQw6 >6C6=J ?665D 86?E=6 92?5=:?8 2?5 C62DDFC2?46 E92E 96VD ?@E 8@:?8 E@ E96 42?[Q w@C@H:EK 6>2:=65 x?4:2C5: 5FC:?8 2 a_`a 6I492?86 23@FE 86EE:?8 $2?56CDV QV6IA=2?2E:@?V D92A65 :?E@ 2 4@>>F?:42E:@?Q E@ 2F4E:@?66CD[ E96 :?5:4E>6?E D2JD]k^Am

kAm$2?56CD DFAA=:65 @C D:8?65 @77 @? D@>6 @7 E96 G2CJ:?8 6IA=2?2E:@?D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 :?5:4E>6?E[ 2?5 :EVD F?4=62C H92E 96 >2J 92G6 4@?G6J65 G6C32==J] qFE 96 2AA2C6?E=J C6;64E65 2E =62DE E96 5C6DD:?8\C@@> E2=6]k^Am

kAmz@D:?<: 7@CH2C565 @?6 6IA=2?2E:@?[ 2AAC@G65 3J $2?56CD[ E@ w6?=6JVD =2HJ6C] z@D:?D<: 2=D@ 2DDFC65 $@E963JVD 2F4E:@? 9@FD6 E92E E96 >FD:4:2? 925 Q?@ 4=2:>Q E@ E96 5@4F>6?ED 2?5 2D<65 E@ <66A A@E6?E:2= 3:556CD :? E96 52C< 23@FE w6?=6JVD 4@>A=2:?ED[ E96 :?5:4E>6?E D2JD]k^Am

kAm$@E963JVD =:DE65 E96 Qw@E6= r2=:7@C?:2Q D@?8 =JC:4D :? 2 a_`e 2F4E:@? 3FE H:E95C6H E96> 27E6C =62C?:?8 E96 @H?6CD9:A H2D :? BF6DE:@?] $@E963JVD :D?VE 492C865 :? E96 42D6 2?5 564=:?65 E@ 4@>>6?E]k^Am

kAmw6?=6J 3@F89E D@>6 5C27E =JC:4D AC:G2E6=J 7C@> v@EE2 w2G6 xEP 7@C Sg[d__ :? a_`a[ H96? 96 2=D@ 3682? 7:=:?8 A@=:46 C6A@CED[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 4@FCE 7:=:?8D]k^Am

kAms676?D6 =2HJ6CD 4=2:> w6?=6J 7@F?5 DE2CDECF4< AC@D64FE@CD E@ E2<6 FA 9:D 42FD6 :?DE625 @7 AFCDF:?8 2 4:G:= DF:E 9:>D6=7]k^Am

kAm%96 spVD @77:46 H@C<65 4=@D6=J H:E9 w6?=6JVD =682= E62>[ 2?5 2? :?G6DE:82E@C 6G6? J62C?65 7@C 324<DE286 A2DD6D 7@C 2? t28=6D D9@H — F?E:= 2 AC@D64FE@C D2:5 E96 :562 H2D Q4@>A=6E6=J :?2AAC@AC:2E6[Q z@D:?<:VD =2HJ6CD D2:5 :? 4@FCE A2A6CD]k^Am

kAm!C@D64FE@CD 92G6 C63F7765 BF6DE:@?D 23@FE E96:C >@E:G2E:@?D 2D Q2 4@?DA:C24J E96@CJ C2E96C E92? 2 =682= 5676?D6]Qk^Am

kAm{2DE J62C[ E96J HC@E6 :? 4@FCE A2A6CD[ QxE :D E96 5676?52?ED[ ?@E E96 AC@D64FE@CD[ H9@ 2C6 @? EC:2=]Qk^Am

kAm000k^Am