Composer sues to stop Gingrich use of song

One does not need permission - one needs only to pay a fee for the public playing of the recording.

Just pay a Music Royalty Fee, they are selling a product afterall.

Couldnt they have just asked him to stop? not just go straight to court and ask for lawyer and court fees to be payed as well? smh

Seriously, a candidate surrounds himself with eggheads & nobody ever brings up copyright permission with regards to using a theme song?? Wow, Newt the Salamander IS like Reagan: In '84 Reagan co-opted Springsteen's Born in the USA without asking permission. And, yep, Springsteen demanded Reagan stop doing that. Hell, pro-business Reagan's usage of the song was all shades of ironic, given the lyrics to Born in the USA (i.e homeless vet can't get a job, etc).

Hmn...I just realized: if Newt is *such* a "historian", this historian figures Newt should've known not to commit the same error as the Reagan campaign did.

Shouldn't he have an "eye of newt"?

Hehehe, He downloaded it off of Napster.... when Napster existed

When I ran for public office, I used the song "Popcorn" at my rallies. I received 0 votes. I even voted for my opponent.

Why does this become an issue every four years? By now, campaigns should have learned that they need to consult with the artist prior to playing the artist's music at campaign events. It's also a good idea to make sure the artist supports (or at least doesn't oppose) your candidate, prior to playing their music at your events. If nothing else, you'll avoid the headlines that are sure to follow when the artist comes out and indicates that he will do everything in his power to ensure that your candidate is NOT elected.

I want to see Newt run up the stairs in Philly and drink down 3 raw eggs

Maybe Gingrich should have the song rewritten as "Eye of Newt". He could get The Waitresses to record it.

Eye of the Tiger - Newt your song should be #$%$ of the Tiger, that is where the crap comes out.

Gingrich has always taken what he wants.

The song sucks anyway!!!

LMAO, proves these politians think they are above the law.

They should be happy about the air-play. That songs been dead for quite some time. I believe this is not the first time they have sued to block the songs use.

Was it Reagan or Bush that stole Springsteen's song? GOP never learns.....

Tha amount of self importance of both of these candidates makes me want to puke. They are re-electing Obama with their words and actions. We have one incompetant in the White houes and now look at these coconuts.

It is amazing how few people know about our copyright laws.

ASCAP, BMI, SESAC all participate to collect fees throughout the world to protect creative content. There are scores of violations daily where the writers and publishers get shafted. You just witnessed one of the most flagrant examples of how these organizations skirt the law and attempt not to pay royalties.

So now they are busted.

Chrissie Hynde from the Pretenders admittedly never liked Rush Limbaugh ...but she sure loved the royalty her song produced, whether it was a buy out or "needle drop" when he used their music as a "bumper".

Oy vay.

Now he's stealing music.