Newt Gingrich is having a lot of bad luck lately. As if losing the Nevada caucuses isn't bad enough, Gingrich now is facing a copyright lawsuit. Frankie Sullivan, a Chicago musician and songwriter, claims Gingrich broke a copyright law in playing Sullivan's song "Eye of the Tiger" at one of his political events.
Sullivan is best known as a founding member of the rock band Survivor, which owns the rights to the 1980s hit "Eye of the Tiger." Sullivan, who owns Palatine-based publishing company Rude Music, is seeking damages from Gingrich.
According to WGN News, other musicians have had previous run-ins with candidates using songs without permission during elections. Jackson Brown asked for John McCain to stop quoting "Running on Empty" during McCain's 2008 presidential bid. In 2011, Tom Petty issued a cease and desist to Michelle Bachman for using Petty's song "American Girl" without his permission.
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