Jackson Browne sues John McCain, etc, for the use of "Running on Empty"
By Wendy
@jerzgirl (9384)
United States
August 17, 2008 2:18pm CST
When I first saw this headline, I thought, oh, please - you cannot sue for the use of a phrase that has been in common use for years. Then I realized it wasn't the phrase, but the actual song that McCain and company misappropriated for use in political ads attacking Barack Obama.
No, it's not because it was used in ads that attack Barack Obama, but because they never bothered asking Jackson Browne if they could have permission to use the song AND they never paid royalties on the song. Therefore, it is copyright infringement....another moral violation by the standard bearers of morality in the USA!
Don't get me wrong - if Obama's group had misappropriated someone's copyrighted music, it would be equally wrong. I admit, I'm a bit more cynical because it's Republicans, but no matter who does something like this, it is wrong!! And, I don't understand how, in today's world of serial punishment of P2P downloaders of music (hell - we used to ALWAYS tape our records and share them way back!) people who are professionals (and the creators of these television ads ARE professionals) could possibly think they could do this without being taken to task! And, on top of that, those who are doing it claim to hold the moral compass of behavior for this country's citizens??? I just don't get it.
So, what do you think? Is Jackson Browne wrong to sue or is the Ohio Republican group that created these ads wrong to use the song without permission? This isn't just a file sharing episode. This is something that was meant to influence thousands, if not millions, of people - not unlike any commercial ad might do. What do you think?
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/08/jackson-browne.html
2 responses
@allen0187 (59826)
• Philippines
17 Aug 08
read about this as well and really surprised that such an important thing was overlooked by mccain's team. this does not bode well for the republicans. jackson browne has all the right to sue john mccain. hopefully, this matter is settled amicably. i think both parties will realize that is the best path to take.
i bet obama's camp is secretly laughing at this very costly mistake done by john mccain's handlers.
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9384)
• United States
17 Aug 08
I hope they're not secretly laughing - I hope they're laughing loud and publicly because I know I am!! Yes, Mr. Browne and anyone else taken advantage of like this would have ALL rights to sue whoever used their artistic endeavors without permission.
I'm wondering if they were just in too much of a hurry to attack Barack to care if they got burnt along the way - just as a lawyer in court will make statements that aren't permitted in front of a jury only to have the judge tell them to not consider that and to have it stricken. The damage is already done - you can't erase a thought once it's planted. So, they proceeded to plant thoughts believing the price to pay would be worth it. I'm hoping they're wrong. No matter what, the ends NEVER justifies the means! I don't want to see this country come to that any more than it has.
@fwidman (11514)
• United States
17 Aug 08
It is his music and he certainly has the right to sue them all for using it without getting permission from either Browne of the publisher. Of course the fact that McCain is a Republican and Browne is more Democrat than anything else probably didn't help 
