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Peanuts Music Copyright Lawsuits Filed
21 May
Summary
- Film production company sues over music use.
- Lawsuits target government and private entities.
- Damages sought for alleged copyright infringement.
Lee Mendelson Film Productions initiated four federal lawsuits this week, accusing various entities of illegally using the music of Vince Guaraldi, famous for his work on "A Charlie Brown Christmas." The legal actions, filed in New York and Washington D.C., name the U.S. Department of the Interior, Heritage Auctions, Buckle-Down Inc., and GameMill Entertainment as defendants.
The lawsuits claim unauthorized use of iconic tunes like "O Tannenbaum," "Linus and Lucy," and "Skating." Specific allegations include the Interior Department using "O Tannenbaum" in a digital holiday card and Heritage Auctions employing "Linus and Lucy" in social media posts to promote auctions.
GameMill Entertainment is accused of violating copyright in its 2025 "Peanuts" video game by using new music compositions that closely imitate Guaraldi's original works. Lee Mendelson Film Productions is seeking substantial financial damages, including at least $300,000 from GameMill, and demanding immediate injunctions against further alleged infringement.
Founded by the producer of "Peanuts" television specials, Lee Mendelson Film Productions aims to protect the rights of creators. The company stated it will no longer tolerate unauthorized use of its music, emphasizing the need to vigorously enforce copyright protections for cultural assets.
