Jackson Browne Sues John McCain For Using Song In Campaign Ad
While I can't think of a better theme for John McCain's campaign than "Running On Empty," someone should have asked permission before using the song in a campaign ad.
Jackson Browne is suing John McCain for using the song "Running on Empty" in a campaign ad -- and the veteran rocker is also calling the candidate a great pretender when it comes to standing up for constitutional rights.
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. Read on...
Hope Jackson prevails!
I cannot believe the Republicans would use somebody’s material with asking first. I’m shocked, shocked I tell you.
The suit notes that other musicians, including ABBA and John Cougar Mellencamp, have asked McCain to stop using their work.
Damn, that song is old. You'd think it would be public domain by now.
Did McCain really think he could get away with jacking a major liberals music?
Hell Bruce Springsteen is still angry about Regans use of the song Born in the USA.
Is the RIAA going to come after McCain like they have for college kids for downloading songs? Sure, it's not exactly the same thing, but McCain's campaign is not paying for the use of the song.
How fucking stupid is it to use copyrighted material without permission? Is this the kind of incompetence McCain would bring to the presidency?
What? Show respect for someone else? Don't just take whatever the hell you want?
What's happeing to this country when an elitist multi-millionaire can't do whatever he wants with impunity?
It ain't right I tell ya, it just ain't right.
Rusty The One Shackleford @ 7:
Yeah, the next thing you know he will be using the Mexican army without their permission to invade Iran.
I was kind of hoping Paris Hilton would sue him.
this, and others... good post on this at TP:
McCain’s Hypocrisy: Promises To Protect ‘Copyrighted Works’ While Infringing On Artists’ Copyrights
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/08/15/mccain-copyright-protection/
Pilatunes @ 10:
I can hear it now.
"Ms. Hilton to the witless errr witness stand."
If you can't trust a President to know basic copyright laws, how can you trust him with an entire Constitution?
You go, Jackson.
what, no "lawyers in love?" that would be perfect for the unholy alliance of lobbyists he has working for him.
the beach boys should sue him for the bomb iran bullshit.
thank you for posting this- I blogged on it last night- and good for Jackson for standing up to McCramps...
What do you expect from McCainFries !?
McCain will soon be using the song, "I Fought the Law and the Law Won"
What other songs can we think of for McCain to use?
This is the problem for right wingers. All the good musicians are liberal.
I mean, how many times can you use Toby Keith.
There just aren't many good songs produced by republics.
Peace
Why do politicians so often do this? Seems like they're always using peoples' music without bothering to pay. Do they not understand what the word copyright means?
Would it be in poor taste to suggest "Holiday in Cambodia" by the Dead Kennedy's?
Probably.
Don @ 18
How about "Welcome to the Jungle"
The Great Pretender of constitutional rights line is priceless. The Obama team should start using it, and make it into an ad at once, using 'The Great Pretender' as the sound track. I'm sure he'd give permission.
QuakerDave @ 13:
Exactly!
I think the song Happy Birthday is still protected.
Captain Bitter @2
"I cannot believe the Republicans would use somebody’s material with asking first. I’m shocked, shocked I tell you."
Republican credo:
Invasions in the 21st century are only for the 'good guys.'
Impeachment is only for Democratic presidents.
Taxes are only for little people.
Copyright protection is only for big people (like Microsoft).
Republicans: Makers of fine double standards since 1968.
QuakerDave @13
"If you can’t trust a President to know basic copyright laws, how can you trust him with an entire Constitution?"
*squeel*
He was in a POW camp for five years!
He was in a POW camp for five years!
He was in a POW camp for five years!
He was in a POW camp for five years!
He was in a POW camp for five years!
He was in a POW camp for five years!
He was in a POW camp for five years!
He was in a POW camp for five years!
A Rock 'n Roller is the one who speaks for US citizens and gets exposure on C&L?
You have lost the battle!
Jackson is a major douchebag who wrote crap songs... but is McCain really this stupid??
Don From Canada @ 18:
Yes, I have no Bananas.?
It seems the Rpublicans are always getting sued for copyright infringement.
On a slightly unrelated note, the in-line ad right now is for the newest swift boat drivel.
Burn them good over the hot coals. ...the bastards!!
Yo, E Rocks! @ 31:
Of course! Because if you own a copyright - you're part of the media by definition.
And therefore, by republican defintion, you're a liberal.
Best not to ask for permission you won't get.
"Only once or twice, then we prohibited this. We would never allow him to do this. Not a Republican who’s a friend of George Bush."
--- Benny Andersson, co-author of ABBA's "Take a Chance On Me"
McBush figures if it is ok to take an entier country, it is also ok to take some intellectual property. That is, if McBush actually KNEW what intellectual meant.
...anything by Napoleon XIV should work just fine for McCain. Two suggestions:
"Marching Off To Bedlam"
and (a classic)
"They're Coming to Take me away
"
Or...he could use American Idiot"
...nah...that one's taken.
Great song, great fricking album.
I got the re-mastered CD (it also comes with an Audio DVD disc) last year.
Nothing But Time, Rosie, Shakey Town, and of course the great Load Out/ Stay.
JTM @ 34:
It's just sad when a Republican thinks he's smart. They always make themselves look so stupid.
Mike V. @ 29:
Hey! Hey! Hey! MIKE! Whoa a minute!
You couldn't go through a college dorm in 1973-74ish without hearing a cut of "Running on Empty! coming out of two out of three dorm rooms. He may be a douchebag, but dammit, thats my douchebag your douchebagging on!
People stay.......
Don From Canada @ 18:
"I'm so tired", sung by Madeline Kahn in "Blazing Saddles"
"Lets face it - everything below da vaist, is ka-PUT!"
"Douchebag"? Nico was his frist girlfriend when he was 15 years old. Some "douchebag"! He wrote THIS SONG,/A> for her.
Once again proving that conservatives have no creative bent. I mean, just look at them.
Anyone know what context "Running On Empty" was used in the ads? It makes me think of their having no record of their own to run on. Bad song choice.
I think my hyporcicy meter just overloaded.
[Deleted. I think my douchebaggery meter just did the same-Sitemonitor]
Who said... "even if you put lipstick on it..... a pig, is still a pig... Oink, Oink, Sen. McCain.
"You couldn’t go through a college dorm in 1973-74ish without hearing a cut of “Running on Empty! coming out of two out of three dorm rooms. He may be a douchebag, but dammit, thats my douchebag your douchebagging on!"
Um.....I love "Running on Empty," too, friend....but your timeline is a little off. The "Running on Empty" LP was actually released in 1977.
I think this could all be a very clever move to get some folks testifying in depositions where this sworn testimony could then be used to slam McCheese.
Thee are groups that are absolutely forbidden to coordinate with the McCain campaign according to campaign finance laws. The depositions should be very interesting.
Mike V. @ 29:
If you are going to make such a stupid remark, you shouldn’t have you web page available for us to see what kind of dildo you are. What kind of cigar are you sucking on in that picture? Is it a Lawrence Welk (a piece of shit with a band around it) the same kind of music you evidently like? Or do you like Guy Lombardo ?
lafin gas @ 48:
Chill out, Sparky. If I remember correctly, the cigar was a Cuban Bolivar.
Negative on the Welk and Lombardo.
I've seen Jackson Browne live opening up for Tom Petty. He sucks.
I heard his ridiculous down beat rock over and over again on rock radio growing up. It's tiresome and irritating at the same time.
Gimme the Ramones or the Stones any time. For current rockers, I'll take the Foo Fighters.
Personally, I need a President that makes me feel like David Lindley's guitar tone! On the note!
Mike V. @ 49:
I would say your taste is all in your mouth but those cigars you suck on have dulled even your taste buds so now you have no taste at all!
lafin gas @ 51:
Sure, Sparky.
I bet no one that reads this page enjoys Petty, the Stones, the Ramones or the Foo Fighters.
Jackson Browne was the Bon Jovi of the 70's.
I'd rather hear about McSame's swollen prostate than listen to his drivel.
Mike V. @ 52:
I bet you would!
Clay Peck @ 46:
'77 also saw the release of Rocket to Russia.
Man, oh, man that is an album. And a short one at that.. :)
Remember that song about re-starting the Cold War with Russia? Yeah, that one! that'd be a great theme song for McCain! Bomb Bomb Iran is pretty good also.
Songs for the McSame campaign: Dirty Laundry by the Eagles, Go to Hell by Alice Cooper or if you want a little country - snowball headed for hell by Merle Haggard.
McDumbass also tried to use a song by John Hall. That would be freshman represenative from the state of New York John Hall. Oh forgot to mention Rep. Hall is a Democrat.
McSame--the pretend president--and his syncophants don't have to ask anybody if they can use their whatever... they just take whatever it is they want and to hell with the rest of us. Hey Johnny... your true colors are showing!!
Fritz @ 56:
And what about Dead Babies by Alice Cooper?
Once again, the amateurs at the McCain campaign reveal themselves. How many times can they screw-up like this? This makes the Bush-Quayle campaign or Dole look good. They are complete f*ckups.
Blurk!!! I am so sick to the stomach with rock stars and their precious ego's.
Yes copyright is copyright, but one wonders would this jerk have kicked up so much of a stink if Obama or Clinton in Reid or Pelosi were to try and use it.
Findlay @ 61:
I think the point is, it's his song, and he doesn't want it to be associated politicians with whom he disagrees. When Obama starts using Ted Nugent songs, Ted is free to sue him.
"Running on lies, fear and smear" would be a more appropriate theme.
John McCain. Talk about running on empty! Nothing upstairs either.
Now I know where Javier Bardem got his haircut model for "No Country for Old Men"
The guy looks at his constituency and says, "i've got nothin'", but it really doesn't matter, his constituency has even less and that my friends is what mccain is counting on. give them the bull shit over and over and over again and pretty soon it becomes their credo. break the law, tramp on the Constitution, break copywrite laws and no one notices, other than crazy liberals, and no one cares. trust me they are counting on ignorance of middle america to carry them to victory.
It's interesting that Republicans always seem to use songs that speak of values they don't have, written and performed by artists who don't agree with their policies. I don't understand why they aren't using some crappy "country" song by Toby Keith or use something from Ted Nugent who do believe in their political ideology. Why doesn't the McCain campaign use Stranglehold, Cat Scratch Fever, Yank Me, Crank Me or even better yet Wang Dang Sweet Poontang as an anthem at their rallies?
I wonder if they illegally downloaded the song from the Internets after finding it with The Google.
LIBERALS, YOU IGNORANT SLUTS!
LIBERALS, YOU IGNORANT SLUTS!
LIBERALS, YOU IGNORANT SLUTS!
Mike V. @ 29:
You have no taste in music.
Findlay @ 61:
Probably not. That's the point of copyright - so you can decide how your work is used. He might give his song to Obama for free because Obama isn't a fucking dumbass like McCain.
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