Kanye West scored a legal victory this week. The rapper was sued in 2010 regarding the hook of his smash 2007 single “Stronger,” and the courts have ruled in West’s favor. The suit claimed that West’s interpolation of philosopher Nietzsche’s oft-quoted phrase “That which does not kill us makes us stronger,” was stolen from producer Vincent Peters’ 2006 song of the same name.

Judge Diane Wood of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the quote has been used in a host of different songs and isn’t covered by copyright law.

“Although the fact that both songs quote from a 19th century German philosopher might, at first blush, seem to be an unusual coincidence, West correctly notes that the aphorism has been repeatedly invoked in song lyrics over the past century,” Judge Wood said. “We are not persuaded that the similarities alleged by Vince P rise to the level of copyright infringement.” [HipHopBlog]