A Family Guy Lawsuit - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 10-04-2007, 01:20 AM

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A music publisher sued Fox Broadcasting Co. on Wednesday for copyright breach, accusing it of adding anti-Semitic lyrics to a copy of "When You Wish Upon A Star" in an episode of the television series "Family Guy."

Bourne Co., the U.S. copyright owner of the song, said the episode, called "When You Wish Upon A Weinstein" damaged the company and the song's reputation as a "cultural treasure, epitomizing the wonders of childhood."

A song in the episode titled "I Need A Jew" was "a thinly veiled copy of the music from 'When You Wish Upon A Star' coupled with "new anti-Semitic lyrics," said the lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court.

The lawsuit said News Corp.-owned Fox initially did not distribute the episode in recognition of how offensive it was. It was eventually broadcast on the Cartoon Network in 2003 and since then in syndication and reruns.

The reputation of the music company, based in New York, and the song has been harmed "by associating the famous song with a vile and outrageous anti-Semitic message," the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit seeks to order Fox to stop distributing the episode and compensation for damages.

The song was introduced in 1940 through the movie "Pinocchio" and won an Academy Award for Best Original Song that same year.

A spokesman for 20th Century Fox Television said he had no comment on the lawsuit.

TJL · 10-04-2007, 06:24 AM

It took them four years to decide to sue?

Gimme a break.

catlover79 · 10-04-2007, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJL

It took them four years to decide to sue?

Gimme a break.

TJL · 10-04-2007, 05:04 PM

Actually the episode is about three year older than that. So basically it's a 7 year old cartoon episode that they're suing over.

Again, give me a break.

catlover79 · 10-04-2007, 05:11 PM

That's like closing the barn door after the horses have escaped.

10-04-2007, 01:20 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	A Family Guy Lawsuit NEW YORK (Reuters) - A music publisher sued Fox Broadcasting Co. on Wednesday for copyright breach, accusing it of adding anti-Semitic lyrics to a copy of "When You Wish Upon A Star" in an episode of the television series "Family Guy." Bourne Co., the U.S. copyright owner of the song, said the episode, called "When You Wish Upon A Weinstein" damaged the company and the song's reputation as a "cultural treasure, epitomizing the wonders of childhood." A song in the episode titled "I Need A Jew" was "a thinly veiled copy of the music from 'When You Wish Upon A Star' coupled with "new anti-Semitic lyrics," said the lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court. The lawsuit said News Corp.-owned Fox initially did not distribute the episode in recognition of how offensive it was. It was eventually broadcast on the Cartoon Network in 2003 and since then in syndication and reruns. The reputation of the music company, based in New York, and the song has been harmed "by associating the famous song with a vile and outrageous anti-Semitic message," the lawsuit said. The lawsuit seeks to order Fox to stop distributing the episode and compensation for damages. The song was introduced in 1940 through the movie "Pinocchio" and won an Academy Award for Best Original Song that same year. A spokesman for 20th Century Fox Television said he had no comment on the lawsuit.
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10-04-2007, 06:24 AM	#2
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,591	It took them four years to decide to sue? Gimme a break.
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10-04-2007, 05:04 PM	#4
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,591	Actually the episode is about three year older than that. So basically it's a 7 year old cartoon episode that they're suing over. Again, give me a break.

10-04-2007, 05:11 PM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	That's like closing the barn door after the horses have escaped.