Does Sam Smith Really Owe Tom Petty Anything? [VIDEOS]

News came out recently that the popular new singer-songwriter Sam Smith will be paying Tom Petty and his songwriting partner royalty fees for similarities between Sam's song Stay with Me and the Tom Petty classic hit "I Won't Back Down."  Tom Petty just released a statement saying he has no hard feelings toward Sam Smith and feels the whole thing was accidental. What do you think?

Here is the statement from Tom Petty's website.

"About the Sam Smith thing. Let me say I have never had any hard feelings toward Sam.  All my years of songwriting have shown me these things can happen.  Most times you catch it before it gets out the studio door but in this case it got by.  Sam’s people were very understanding of our predicament and we easily came to an agreement.  The word lawsuit was never even said and was never my intention.  And no more was to be said about it. How it got out to the press is beyond Sam or myself.  Sam did the right thing and I have thought no more about this.  A musical accident no more no less. In these times we live in this is hardly news. I wish Sam all the best for his ongoing career. Peace and love to all." Tom Petty

Take a listen to the two songs and see if you hear the similarities.

Here is Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down."

And here is Sam Smith's "Stay With Me."

Do you hear the similarities? Do you think Sam Smith really owes Tom Petty and his songwriters royalties?