Jackson Browne Sues GOP And McCain Campaign

***UPDATE*** McCain Campaign spokesman Brian Rogers responds to the lawsuit filed by Jackson Browne:

This campaign has never run any ad using any portion of Mr. Browne's song. If the complaint names the McCain campaign, Mr. Browne and his lawyers have picked the wrong target, and John McCain's name should obviously be removed from this lawsuit immediately.

Singer, songwriter, liberal activist and now John McCain scourge Jackson Browne filed a lawsuit today against the presumptive GOP nominee and the Republican Party for failing to obtain a license to use one of his songs in a television commercial.

The song, "Running on Empty," has been used by the Ohio Republican Party (not the McCain campaign) apparently against Browne's approval. The music icon also claims that in doing so, the false perception is created that he is endorsing McCain's candidacy.

If the whole episode strikes a nostalgic tone, it's because famous musical artists and Republican presidential candidates have butted heads in the past. Bruce Springsteen publicly complained when Ronald Reagan used "Born in the U.S.A" during his campaign in 1984.

The commercial Browne is upset by is a recent spot on energy policy that rips Barack Obama for suggesting that the country conserve gas through proper tire inflation.

"We are confident that Jackson Browne will prevail in this lawsuit. Not only have Senator McCain and his agents plainly infringed Mr. Browne's copyright in Running On Empty, but the Federal Courts have long held that the unauthorized use of a famous singer's voice in a commercial constitutes a false endorsement and a violation of the singer's right of publicity," Lawrence Iser of the Santa Monica, California law firm Kinsella Weitzman Iser Kump & Aldisert said in a press release. "In light of Jackson Browne's lifelong commitment to Democratic ideals and political candidates, the misappropriation of Jackson Browne's endorsement is entirely reprehensible, and I have no doubt that a jury will agree."

This is the second time in a week a celebrity has chastised the McCain camp for allegedly illegally using his or her material. Mike Myers, earlier this week, insisted that the Arizona Republican take down a web ad that -- mocking Obama's celebrity -- used a "we're not worthy" clip from his movie Wayne's World.

Back in July, meanwhile, the Silicon Alley Insider reported that...

... Warner Music Group (WMG) appears to have demanded that YouTube remove "Obama Love," a montage of press fawning over Sen. Barack Obama that had been posted on Sen. John McCain's official YouTube channel. "This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by Warner Music Group," says a message on YouTube.

The video, set to Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," had the makings of a rare viral hit for McCain. It had been viewed more than 200,000 times in its first three day on the Web, and helped McCain beat Obama in total views on YouTube over the past week.

Comments

[wrathofcon]

Anyone who backed the Sandanistas is Communist and that is what he did back in the 80's.
Doctor My Eyes best song he ever did.

[strick9]

Here we go with the labels again. You must think all liberals are communist. If this is true then all republicans must be fascist. Those do seem to be the extremes. From my prospective you can't get more extreme than what the Republican Party today. Viva Morales, at least Bolivia has a president that represents his people.

[S1m0n]

...and the contras were the terrorists. Is that your affiliation, too?

[MinuteMan]

What's a little "collateral damage" when you're backing "freedom" fighters?

[DayoftheLiberal]

Gosh, aren't the right-wingers the ones always carping about the sanctity of property rights?

[Darnamell]

Oh come on, you expect the NeoCons and Talibangelicals to NOT be hypocrites?

[poorotis]

Heckuva job, Brownie!

[SEQUOIABISON]

Now I know why Jackson Browne's music always resonated with me.

If the McCain folks violated my copyright rights, first I would be disgusted and nauseous for days then I would sue the troglodytes.

Thanks Mr Browne for showing this public aversion to Mr McCain who is attempting to be our next warmonger in chief.

[beauwin]

Use Edwards He's free right now!!! LOL

[MsLiz]

IOKIYAR

http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/IOKIYAR

[RadicalConservative]

Two points --- (1) who the heck is Jackson Browne and why should we care? (2) why is he suing McCain when the Ohio Republican party used the song?
This nobody should be happy he's getting some publicity!

[AtomiClash]

Jackson Browne is a musical icon who's been making hits since the 70s. But a dearth of pop-culture knowledge is nothing to fault a person for.
What is the issue is use of another person's creative material against his wishes. And as the ad seemed to have been aimed to foster support for McCain, he is guilty in implicit support of the Ohio GOP.

[FiLoLi]

If we go with your line of thinking then Obama is responsible for the song Ludacris put out also.

[MsLiz]

Ahh, youth! Jackson Browne is in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The universe does not revolve around you.

[wizardofoz]

check your rock & roll history hall of fame RADICAL.

[NicholeWebb]

Darling, you are a cultural freak. I am 34 and I know who Jackson Browne is! Sheesh!

[FiLoLi]

He's that guy with the Dorthy Hammel haircut who smacked around Darryl Hannah.

[AmandaBC]

A "conservative artist" is an even bigger oxymoron than a "compassionate conservative." No wonder these thugs always need to STEAL from people who don't share their ideals (or lack thereof...)

[Whinger]

McCain's theme tune should be something out of looney tunes, Daffy Duck seem appropriate!

[maxwellinformed]

I hear Koby Teeth is available.

[Roose]

Lee Greenwood is probably looking to get out of retirement.

[IanStuart]

Oh come on, Jackson, cut them some slack! If Republicans can't use liberal music in their ads, who can they turn to? Toby Keith? That's just mean.

[SaddieMcCall]

There is always Orrin Hatch - he is a song writer

[ssb752]

"Let the Eagle Soar" an Ashcroft Golden Oldie (or is Ashcroft the Golden Oldie?) But be careful Repubs, I hear he's an attorney (can't prove it by me).

[likeicare]

Just one more reason McSame's campaign is doomed to failure -- they try to be "hip" by ripping-off someone who hates them anyway.

Helllooooo! If you're gonna steal from someone, why not make it a fellow knuckle-dragger like Toby Keith?

Oh, yeah, I forgot -- they're trying to steal from someone people actually listen to.

[MajorKong]

Reminds me of when Bruce Springsteen told the Reagan campaign to stop using "Born in the USA".

[DrPaulProteus]

I've seen Jackson Browne at an anti-Iraq war march or two in LA with my own eyes. not on stage either, just a guy in the crowd like the rest of us, expressing his opinion. If only everyone bagging on him were as cool and on the right side of humanity. keep typing away, though.

[karela]

Hey, maybe Warner Music Group will sue!! What a good idea! A few of those that hurt enough and republicans will stop trying to steal the work product of others for their own use.