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Jackson Browne suing John McCain for using 'Running on Empty' in campaign ads
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Won't somebody please tell John McCain that Jackson Browne is not a Republican? And can somebody mention to his campaign manager that presidential candidates do not have diplomatic immunity from copyright laws?
Jackson Browne is a major liberal and he's so angry about McCain using his song in a campaign ad that he's suing the candidate and the Republican Party for copyright infringement and false endorsement, according to UPI.
The LA Times reports:
Browne, one of rock music's most famous activists for liberal causes, is "incensed" that the presumptive Republican candidate for president has been using Browne's signature 1977 song "Running on Empty" in campaign commercials, according to the singer-songwriter's attorney. Browne filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against both McCain and the Republican National Committee on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles seeking a permanent injunction prohibiting the use of the forlorn arena anthem or any other Browne compositions, as well as damages.
A McCain spokesperson told the Times that the ad was actually put together by the Ohio Republican Party. But Browne's attorney, Lawrence Y. Iser, told the Times they have the right defendants. "We have sued the Ohio Republican Party as well, and we have been informed and believe that McCain and his campaign were well aware of the ad. We are also informed and believe that the ad was broadcast on television in Ohio and Pennsylvania. ... The fact that it appears on the Internet means it also reaches an audience well beyond those states."
Iser told the Times the lawsuit "is not politically motivated. It's a copyright infringement lawsuit, pure and simple, but the fact that Senator McCain has used this song in a hit piece on Barack Obama is anathema to Jackson."
McCain apparently has a naughty history of using a number of artists' songs without permission.
"They used a John Mellencamp song until he made them stop and he used an ABBA song and a Frankie Valli song -- it's ridiculous and it's setting a terrible example," Iser said. "It's shocking that they don't even attempt to get permission. There's no copyright difference between using a song to sell cars or by people running for president. The music industry continues to suffer due to lack of respect for intellectual property rights, and a candidate for president has a duty to lead by example and ensuring their campaign does as well. The copyright protections are derived from the Constitution itself."
Oh those wacky Republicans. Aren't they funny stealing songs like that? And aren't they cute hoping to get away with it? And don't you just hope your children grow up to be just like them?
[Photo: MTV]
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