Coldplay [ tickets ] issued a statement yesterday (12/9) in response to Joe Satriani [ tickets ]'s copyright-infringement lawsuit, saying any similarities between the guitarist's music and the band's song "Viva La Vida" is entirely coincidental.

Satriani filed a lawsuit last week claiming Coldplay copied "substantial, original portions" of his 2004 song "If I Could Fly" for their hit song, which has topped charts around the world since its release.

"Joe Satriani is a great musician, but he did not write or have any influence on the song 'Viva La Vida,'" the band said in a statement posted on its website. "We respectfully ask him to accept our assurances of this and wish him well with all future endeavors."

The 52-year-old Satriani, who filed the copyright infringement lawsuit Thursday (12/4) in a Los Angeles federal court, wants a judge to order an accounting so he can determine how much money he may be owed.