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Man Sues U2 over Song and Plans to Appeal Ruling in Supreme Court

A man who claims to have written a song for the famous Irish band U2, known as “The Fly,” is planning to appeal a recent ruling that denied him 50% of the song’s royalty rights. The individual in question, Paul Rose, has argued for years that he co-wrote the track with U2’s frontman Bono in the late 1980s but was never given proper credit or compensation. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at Rose’s claims and the legal battle he’s currently fighting to prove his contribution to one of U2’s most iconic songs.


The ongoing legal battle between U2 and musician Paul Rose has recently taken some interesting twists and turns. Rose, who claims to have written the band’s hit song “The Fly,” is suing them for €12 million in royalties he says he is owed. The case has been making its way through the Irish court system for years, with Rose consistently fighting to have his claim recognized.

Most recently, Rose has announced his intention to appeal a decision by the High Court to throw out his case against U2. The court ruled that Rose’s claim had no merit, and that U2 had every right to their share of the royalties from “The Fly.” However, Rose maintains that he wrote the song’s lyrics and that he is entitled to a percentage of the profits generated by its use.

In addition to this appeal, Rose is also seeking to compel U2 bassist Adam Clayton to answer questions related to the case. Clayton has previously declined to participate in the legal proceedings, citing the fact that he was not directly involved in the creation of “The Fly.” However, Rose and his legal team believe that Clayton’s testimony could be crucial to their case, and they are hoping that the Supreme Court will require him to provide it.

Meanwhile, U2 has been standing firm in their defense of their ownership of “The Fly.” They argue that they have never denied that Rose contributed some lyrics to the song, but that their collaboration with him was not extensive enough to warrant payment of royalties. Additionally, the band has pointed out that Rose has been inconsistent in his claims about the song’s origins, changing his story several times over the years.

Despite all of this back-and-forth, the dispute between Rose and U2 is unlikely to be resolved anytime soon. With more legal proceedings still to come and no clear resolution in sight, it seems that this conflict will continue to be a thorn in the side of the band and its former collaborator for the foreseeable future. So, the fans of both parties will have to wait and watch this legal battle with keen interest.


As the legal battle surrounding the authorship of U2’s hit song “The Fly” continues, it’s clear that there are still many unanswered questions. While the judge in the case has ruled that Paul Rose did not write the song, Rose remains adamant that he did, and plans to appeal the decision.

As we await the outcome of this appeal, it’s worth remembering that the story of “The Fly” is just one example of the many legal disputes that can arise in the music industry. From alleged copyright infringement to disputes over royalties and ownership, musicians and songwriters often find themselves embroiled in legal battles that can take years to resolve.

Regardless of the outcome of this particular case, it’s clear that the music industry needs to do more to protect the rights of artists and creators. Whether through clearer copyright laws, more transparent ownership structures, or better mechanisms for resolving disputes, there is much work to be done if we want to ensure that musicians can continue to produce the music that we all love.

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