Loeb Secures Favorable Settlement for Producers and Theatres of “Stereophonic” Play in Copyright Infringement Dispute

Loeb & Loeb is pleased to announce that the firm secured a settlement on behalf of the producers of the Tony Award-winning play Stereophonic and the Broadway and off-Broadway theatres where the play ran in 2023 and 2024, resolving a copyright infringement suit brought by the co-authors of the 2012 book Making Rumours: The Inside Story of the Classic Fleetwood Mac Album.

Stereophonic follows the members of a 1970s rock band as they record their breakthrough album, immersing audiences in the creative, personal and relationship dynamics of the group—all set within the walls of a recording studio. Featuring live music composed by Will Butler of indie rock band Arcade Fire, the play set a Tony record with 13 nominations, winning five awards, including the Tony Award for Best Play.

The plaintiffs, Kenneth Caillat and Steven Stiefel, alleged in their October 2024 complaint that the play appropriated material from Making Rumours, which chronicles Caillat’s life in the music industry and his experiences co-producing Fleetwood Mac’s iconic album Rumours. The case raised questions about the protectability of autobiographical elements of the plaintiffs’ book and the extent to which the play infringed those elements in its presentation of its characters’ relationships and dialogue, among other aspects.

The Loeb team successfully secured a settlement three months after the case was filed, clearing the path for a new Stereophonic production on London’s West End and a U.S. touring production in 2025, both of which were announced shortly after the settlement. 

The Loeb team was led by Litigation partner Frank D’Angelo and included Entertainment associate David Manella, Litigation partner Jonathan Zavin and Litigation associate David Forrest.