Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page has settled a copyright infringement lawsuit with songwriter Jake Holmes over the iconic track “Dazed and Confused,” according to a California federal court filing on August 1, 2025. The agreement, which resolves the entire case, ends a legal battle initiated by Holmes in May 2025, accusing Page, Warner Chappell, and Sony Pictures of violating his rights by failing to properly credit or compensate him for the song’s use in archival Yardbirds recordings and the documentary *Becoming Led Zeppelin*. The terms of the settlement remain undisclosed, but it marks the second resolution between Page and Holmes, following a 2011 agreement that credited Led Zeppelin’s version as “written by Jimmy Page, inspired by Jake Holmes.”[](https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/jake-holmes-and-led-zeppelins-jimmy-page-reach-settlement-in-dazed-and-confused-copyright-dispute/)[](https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/led-zeppelins-jimmy-page-sony-pictures-settle-songwriters-dazed-confused-lawsuit-2025-08-01/)
Holmes, a singer-songwriter and ad jingle creator, wrote and recorded “Dazed and Confused” in 1967 for his album *The Above Ground Sound of Jake Holmes*. He claims Page first heard the song when Holmes opened for The Yardbirds in Greenwich Village in August 1967, a performance corroborated by Yardbirds drummer Jim McCarty. Page later adapted the song for The Yardbirds and transformed it into Led Zeppelin’s seminal 1969 track, retaining the distinctive descending riff but adding new lyrics. Holmes initially took no action, reportedly saying, “What the hell, let him have it,” but filed a 2010 lawsuit that led to the 2011 settlement acknowledging his influence.[](https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/led-zeppelins-jimmy-page-sony-pictures-settle-songwriters-dazed-confused-lawsuit-2025-08-01/)[](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/jimmy-page-dazed-and-confused-lawsuit-jake-holmes-1235331801/)[](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/jun/30/led-zeppelin-sued-dazed-and-confused)
The recent lawsuit centered on Page’s release of Yardbirds recordings, such as *Yardbirds ’68* and *Live at the BBC Revisited*, over the past three years, which Holmes alleged falsely credited Page as the sole songwriter, breaching their 2011 agreement. Additionally, Holmes claimed two performances of “Dazed and Confused” in *Becoming Led Zeppelin*, including a Yardbirds version, were incorrectly credited to Page, infringing his copyright. Holmes sought at least $150,000 per instance of infringement, arguing that a cease-and-desist letter sent in April 2025 was ignored. The settlement halts further legal action, with a final written agreement in progress.[](https://www.98online.com/jimmy-page-settles-writing-credits-dispute-with-dazed-and-confused-composer)[](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/jimmy-page-settles-dazed-and-confused-lawsuit/)[](https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/jimmy-page-sony-pictures-sued-by-songwriter-over-led-zeppelin-song-2025-05-05/)
The resolution closes a chapter on one of rock’s most debated copyright disputes, following Led Zeppelin’s history of legal challenges over songs like “Stairway to Heaven.” Holmes’ persistence has ensured his original composition is recognized, while Page can focus on upcoming projects, including Led Zeppelin’s *Physical Graffiti* 50th-anniversary celebrations in September 2025. The settlement reinforces the 2011 credit adjustment, preserving Holmes’ legacy as the song’s creator while affirming Page’s transformative contribution to one of Led Zeppelin’s signature tracks.[](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/jimmy-page-settles-dazed-and-confused-lawsuit/)[](https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/jimmy-page-and-jake-holmes-settle-dazed-and-confused-lawsuit)
