"Peanuts" music owner sues U.S. government over use of iconic songs
Summary
Lee Mendelson Film Productions sued the U.S. Department of the Interior, a video game company, an auction house, and a belt maker for using music from "A Charlie Brown Christmas" without permission. The lawsuits claim the defendants used Vince Guaraldi’s famous jazz songs in social media posts and a video game without proper licensing.Key Facts
- Lee Mendelson Film Productions owns the rights to music from "Peanuts" TV specials like "A Charlie Brown Christmas."
- The company filed four lawsuits in federal courts against the Interior Department, GameMill Entertainment, Heritage Auctions, and Buckle-Down Inc.
- The Interior Department allegedly used Guaraldi’s "O Tannenbaum" arrangement in a social media holiday card without permission.
- Heritage Auctions is accused of using "Linus and Lucy" in social media posts to promote an auction without a license.
- Buckle-Down Inc. is also sued for unauthorized use of "Peanuts"-themed music in social media posts.
- GameMill Entertainment is alleged to have used music in its 2025 "Peanuts" video game that closely imitates Guaraldi’s compositions without permission.
- Lee Mendelson Film Productions seeks financial damages and court orders to stop future unauthorized use.
- Peanuts Worldwide LLC, which owns rights to the characters, is not involved in the lawsuits.
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