The owner of the music for “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and other “Peanuts” television specials filed lawsuits against the Department of the Interior, among other defendants, claiming the music was illegally used.
Lee Mendelson Film Productions filed the lawsuits in New York and Washington, D.C. The defendants also include a video game company, an auction house, and a belt-maker.
In the lawsuit against the Department of the Interior, the production company argued that the Trump administration did not have permission to use pianist Vince Guaraldi’s “O Tannenbaum” from “A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Another lawsuit argues that Heritage Auctions illegally used “Linus and Lucy” in social media posts. Christina Rees, a representative of Heritage Auctions, said in an email to the Associated Press, “At this time, Heritage has not been served with or reviewed the complaint. If and when we receive it, we will review the allegations and respond as appropriate.”
In its lawsuit against video game publisher GameMill Entertainment, Lee Mendelson Film Productions said music compositions mirroring “Linus and Lucy” and “Skating” were too similar to Guaraldi’s.
Attorney Marc Jacobson said in a statement obtained by the outlet that Lee Mendelson Film Productions “will no longer tolerate companies using their property without a license, especially in this era of instant digital sharing.” He said “the rights of creators and the protection of iconic cultural assets must be vigorously enforced.”
While financial damages differ in the lawsuits, the company is seeking a judge’s injunction in each case and demands that the copyright violations cease.
