Jackson Brown Sues McCain

John McCain helped himself to Jackson Browne’s song, “Running on Empty” for a campaign ad. Browne is suing for copyright infringement, Lanham Act violations (for falsely suggesting that Browne supports the McCain campaign) and for right of publicity violations under California law. LA Times and The Associated Press.

This entry was posted on Friday, August 15th, 2008 at 8:14 am and is filed under copyright, politics, right of publicity. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

4 Responses to Jackson Brown Sues McCain

  1. adlv2006 says:
    August 15, 2008 at 8:26 am

    This is hilarious. I think that candidates assume that they can just use artists’ songs. Let’s think back to Reagan who used Springsteen’s “Born In The USA.” On a surface listening, you’d think that it’s a patriotic song (like rah-rah, go USA). On a deeper listening, it’s a scathing criticism on the treatment of Vietnam veterans. I also think back recently to when a Boston song was used. Now, McCain used a Jackson Browne song. I’m not sure what Browne’s political leanings are. I am relatively sure though that they’re not conservative Republican. I just wish that politicians would quit being idiots and actually ask musicians to use their songs.

    Jose A. Rodriguez
    adlv2006.wordpress.com

  2. qwerty123 says:
    September 7, 2008 at 12:11 am

    Where is the GOP going to ever get decent, recognizable campaign songs if they can’t steal them? I think the only rock star who’d ever agree to have his or her song used at a GOP event would be Ted Nugent.

  3. clark says:
    September 23, 2008 at 11:33 pm

    hey, “Wang Dang, Sweet Poon Tang” is a perfectly legitimate political statement….. for Caibou Barbie.

  4. john says:
    September 28, 2008 at 3:57 pm

    Browne is a Democrat; he said so on the Colbert Report