Trending Now - Peanuts' Music Rights Holders File Lawsuit Against Multiple Parties

WHO:

[06:18 AM EDT] - CBS News - Lee Mendelson Film Productions filed the lawsuits against the U.S. Department of the Interior, a video game company, an auction house, and a belt-maker.

ABC News Business - The owner of the music of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and other "Peanuts" television specials.

Billboard - The music owners of "Peanuts," specifically referencing Vince Guaraldi.

WHAT:

[06:18 AM EDT] - CBS News - The lawsuits allege that the U.S. Department of the Interior illegally used Guaraldi's arrangement of "O Tannenbaum" in a digital holiday card and that Heritage Auctions used "Linus and Lucy" in social media posts promoting an auction.

ABC News Business - Filed four lawsuits alleging illegal use of the jazzy piano tunes of Vince Guaraldi.

Billboard - The lawsuits claim that Vince Guaraldi's iconic score has been used without permission or payment.

WHERE:

[06:18 AM EDT] - CBS News - The lawsuits were filed in federal courts in New York and Washington, D.C.

Billboard - The lawsuits include claims against a federal agency for using the music in a digital Christmas card.

WHEN:

ABC News Business - The lawsuits were filed on a Wednesday.

WHY:

ABC News Business - The lawsuits allege illegal use of the music.

HOW:

[06:18 AM EDT] - CBS News - Lee Mendelson Film Productions is seeking at least $300,000 from GameMill Entertainment and is requesting a judge's injunction to stop the alleged copyright violations.

Billboard - The legal actions are described as a "legal blitz" against multiple parties.

(UPDATED May 21, 2026 12:02 UTC)

Lee Mendelson Film Productions has filed lawsuits against the U.S. Department of the Interior, a video game company, an auction house, and a belt-maker, claiming illegal use of music in various contexts. The lawsuits allege that the Department of the Interior used Guaraldi's arrangement of "O Tannenbaum" in a digital holiday card, while Heritage Auctions featured "Linus and Lucy" in social media posts promoting an auction. Filed in federal courts in New York and Washington, D.C., the lawsuits seek at least $300,000 from GameMill Entertainment and request a judge's injunction to halt the alleged copyright violations.

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(UPDATED May 21, 2026 01:41 UTC)

The owner of the music from "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and other "Peanuts" specials has filed four lawsuits alleging that the jazzy piano tunes of Vince Guaraldi have been used without permission or payment. Among the claims is a lawsuit against a federal agency for using Guaraldi's iconic score in a digital Christmas card. This legal action, described as a "legal blitz," targets multiple parties for the alleged illegal use of the beloved music.