HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Paris Hilton isn't the only celeb taking on Republican presidential nominee John McCain these days.
The 59-year-old singer has filed a lawsuit against McCain and the Republican party, alleging they used the single "Running on Empty" without his permission in a recent TV commercial.
In the suit, which was filed on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, Browne claims no one bother to obtain permission to utilize his signature 1977 single.
The ad in question mocks his Democratic counterpart Barack Obama for suggesting that the country conserve gas through proper tire inflation.
Browne, who is a well-known Democrat, is seeking a permanent injunction prohibiting the use of his song, in addition to unspecified damages.
Browne's attorney, Lawrence Y. Iser, told the Los Angeles Times that McCain has a long track record when it comes to copyright infringement.
"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," he 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."
Last week, Hilton took on McCain after he likened Obama to the heiress and pop star Britney Spears in another one of his commercials.
Article © ASM — All Rights Reserved
- Comment
