Lee Mendelson Film Productions Files Four Copyright Lawsuits Over Peanuts Music
Lee Mendelson Film Productions filed four federal lawsuits Wednesday alleging unauthorized use of Vince Guaraldi compositions from Peanuts television specials. The suits target the U.S. Department of the Interior, Heritage Auctions, Buckle-Down Inc., and GameMill Entertainment.
newser.comAlleging unauthorized use of music from Peanuts television specials. U.S. Department of the Interior used an arrangement of "O Tannenbaum" from "A Charlie Brown Christmas" in a digital holiday card posted to social media without permission.
A second lawsuit alleges Heritage Auctions used "Linus and Lucy" in Facebook and Instagram posts promoting an auction of collectibles. , a belt company that produces Peanuts-themed products. The fourth lawsuit targets video game publisher GameMill Entertainment.
It alleges the 2025 game "Snoopy & The Great Mystery Club" used new compositions that closely resemble Guaraldi pieces including "Linus and Lucy" and "Skating" without permission. The plaintiff seeks at least $300,000 in damages from GameMill and an injunction stopping the alleged violations.
Vince Guaraldi composed the music for the specials. Mendelson died in 2019. U.S. Department of the Interior said in an email that it does not comment on litigation. A representative of Heritage Auctions stated the company has not yet been served with or reviewed the complaint.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
3 events- Wednesday
Lee Mendelson Film Productions filed four copyright lawsuits in federal courts.
1 source@CBSNews - 2025
GameMill Entertainment released Snoopy & The Great Mystery Club video game.
1 source@CBSNews - 1965
A Charlie Brown Christmas television special first aired with Vince Guaraldi music.
1 source@CBSNews
Potential Impact
- 01
The defendants may face court orders to stop using the music and pay damages.
- 02
Other companies using Peanuts music on social media could face similar legal action.
Transparency Panel
Related Stories
The GuardianWHO Chief Visits DRC as Ebola Death Rate Reaches 30-50%
World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to support containment of a new Ebola outbreak. The agency revised the death rate to 30-50% based on confirmed cases and recorded 10 confirmed and 223 suspected d…
westernjournal.comGreek National Charged in UK With Aiding Iran-Linked Intelligence Service
A 46-year-old Greek man living in Germany was charged under the UK National Security Act with assisting an intelligence service believed to be Iran by targeting a journalist at Iran International.
upi.comSupreme Court Revives Havana Docks Lawsuit Over Confiscated Cuban Property
The U.S. Supreme Court sent a Helms-Burton Act case back to lower courts for further argument. The suit seeks damages from cruise lines that used docks seized by Cuba in 1959.