Owner of 'Peanuts' music sues 3 companies and US government alleging illegal use of its catchy tunes
The company says the defendants used Vince Guaraldi’s Peanuts music without permission, with one social media card viewed millions of times.
- On Wednesday, Lee Mendelson Film Productions filed four copyright lawsuits in New York and Washington, D.C., alleging unauthorized use of Vince Guaraldi's iconic Peanuts music by multiple defendants.
- Founded in 1965, Lee Mendelson Film Productions holds rights to Guaraldi's jazz compositions created through collaboration between producer Lee Mendelson, Peanuts creator Charles Schulz, and director Bill Melendez.
- The complaints allege GameMill Entertainment used unlicensed, copycat music in its 2025 video game Snoopy & The Great Mystery Club, while the Interior Department purportedly used an unauthorized arrangement of Tannenbaum in social media holiday cards.
- Two additional lawsuits target Buckle-Down Inc. and Heritage Auctions for allegedly using the Peanuts theme Linus and Lucy in promotional advertisements on Facebook and Instagram.
- Attorney Marc Jacobson stated the firm seeks at least $300,000 from GameMill and court injunctions, saying they will "no longer tolerate companies using their property without a license.
71 Articles
71 Articles
'Peanuts' Music Owner Sues Trump Admin
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 producti…
'Peanuts' music owner files 4 lawsuits over 'Charlie Brown' tunes
“The owner of the Peanuts television and film music catalog is suing multiple entities over the alleged unlawful use of jazz artist Vince Guaraldi’s famous tracks from the “Charlie Brown” franchise. Lee Mendelson Film Productions filed four federal copyright lawsuits, … (one of them against) the U.S. Department of the Interior.” – USA Today
The Independent
The Independent (US)Owner of ‘Peanuts’ music sues Trump administration for using tunes without permission
Lee Mendelson Film Productions, which owns the copyright to ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ and other shows, filed the suits in federal courts in New York and Washington, DC
Owner of Peanuts Music Gets Litigious
The owner of the music of A Charlie Brown Christmas and other Peanuts television specials filed four lawsuits Wednesday against defendants including the US Department of the Interior, alleging they illegally used the jazzy ditties of pianist Vince Guaraldi in social media posts and a video game. Lee Mendelson Film...
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
