Talking Head Sues Charlie Crist; New York Times, 5/24/10

Ben Sisario, New York Times; Talking Head Sues Charlie Crist:

"The singer and former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne has sued Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida, saying that he used the Talking Heads’ song “Road to Nowhere” in a Senate campaign ad without permission. The song was used in an online video posted in January that attacked Marco Rubio, a Republican who is Governor Crist’s opponent for the seat that will be vacated this year by Mel Martinez. The governor, a longtime Republican, is now running as an independent.

The suit, which was filed on Monday in United States District Court in Tampa, and first reported by Billboard, accused Gov. Crist of copyright infringement and false endorsement, and seeks $1 million in damages. Mr. Byrne’s lawyer, Lawrence Iser, represented Jackson Browne in his suit against John McCain for using the song “Running on Empty” in a presidential campaign ad in Ohio in 2008; as part of a settlement, the Republican National Committee apologized to Mr. Browne and promised to seek artists’ approval when using their music in commercials.

“As an attorney and the former attorney general of Florida, Gov. Crist knows better,” Mr. Iser said in a statement. “A political candidate may not incorporate the artistry of musicians and a songwriter into a campaign commercial without getting a license.”

A spokeswoman for Governor Crist said he had no comment."

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/24/talking-head-sues-charlie-crist/