International Law

"Don't Use My Song In Your Campaign"

By Garry J. Wise, Wise Law Office, Toronto

CTV reports that Tom Scholz, founder and lead-songwriter for the rock band Boston, has told Mike Huckabee to stop using the group's song, More than a Feeling, in the Arkansas Governor's quest for the Republican nomination.

Sholz is a supporter of Barack Obama.

Is there a legal basis upon which a songwriter can stop a candidate's unauthorized use of a song in an election campaign?

Volokh has a good analysis of how U.S. copyright law answers this vital question.

Short answer - probably not.

- Garry J. Wise, Toronto

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Full post as published by Wise Law Blog on February 16, 2008 (boomark / email).