Jackson Browne sues McCain campaign for using his song

Sen. John McCain's campaign is running on empty when it comes to the use of Jackson Browne's song of the same name, and the singer is taking the Republican presidential nominee to court over it, Geoff Boucher reports.

Jackson Browne is suing Sen. John McCain for using "Running on Empty" in television ads 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 television campaign commercials, according to the singer-songwriter’s attorney.

Browne, who filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against both McCain and the Republican National Committee on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, is seeking a permanent injunction prohibiting the use of the forlorn arena anthem or any other Browne compositions, as well as damages.

Browne’s attorney, Lawrence Y. Iser, said the lawsuit “is not politically motivated, it’s a copyright infringement lawsuit, pure and simple, but the fact that Sen. McCain has used this song in a hit-piece on Barack Obama is anathema to Jackson.”

The full story is coming soon and I'll update the post as soon as it goes live.

Update: Geoff Boucher has the scoop on the Browne lawsuit on the Top of the Ticket

-- Veronique de Turenne

Photo credit: Getty Images

Comments

[James Allen]

Browne’s attorney, Lawrence Y. Iser, said the lawsuit “is not politically motivated, it’s a copyright infringement lawsuit, pure and simple, but the fact that Sen. McCain has used this song in a hit-piece on Barack Obama is anathema to Jackson.”

Right...and the sun goes from west to east. Of course it's political.

[Sean K]

James Allen: when they say its not political, what they mean to say is not that the situation is completely devoid of any political consequences or overtones, but rather that it is not the main point of the issue. The main point of the issue is that Mc Cain's use of the song is illegal. It's tantamount to lying and saying that jackson browne, or whoever supports your campaign... The same thing Reagan did with Born in the U.S.A... republicans can't find a campaign song because any intelligent artist with an inspiring or interesting perspective wouldn't let them use it. The idea that you can't object to someone infringing on your copyrights and using your music for whatever purpose they want without it being 'political' is the dumbest thing I've heard in weeks.

[Dave Atkins]

What's amazing to me is that Senator McCain seems to have emerged from the 70's with only this song in his consciousness. No other ethos seems to have stuck.

[john gusky]

i doubt seriously if john mccaine *himself* selected the song, and instructed his campign to use it. rather more likely, a campaing mgr. suggested it to the senator, who may have asked "...are we OK to use it?" and the campaign told him "yes". that's not to excuse sen. maccaine from liability...he's the boss, after all. but it's so typical of republican strategy to sTeal, cheAt, lie (remember CREEP?) and what does it say about mccaine's ability to manage? ALOT...and it ain't good.