While Billy Joel credits Beethoven in the liner notes, he never acquired permission or rights from Beethoven's estate. Beethoven's ancestor, Malcolm Beethoven is quoted in the January 1983 Spin magazine on the subject: "I've heard the track, and yes you can see that the melody is derivative of that piano number, but really they are two different songs, so the estate decided not to take legal action". Since the song was never released as a single, there was no way to quantify what damages would be due to the Beethoven's regardless.
Um, The melody isn't from Beethoven's "4th or 6th" (Seriously dude???). It is from the second movement of Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, aka Sonata Pathétique.
While Billy Joel credits Beethoven in the liner notes, he never acquired permission or rights from Beethoven's estate. Beethoven's ancestor, Malcolm Beethoven is quoted in the January 1983 Spin magazine on the subject: "I've heard the track, and yes you can see that the melody is derivative of that piano number, but really they are two different songs, so the estate decided not to take legal action". Since the song was never released as a single, there was no way to quantify what damages would be due to the Beethoven's regardless.