Copyright Case Over "When You Wish Upon A Star" Thrown Out Of Court
Family Guy Copyright Case Thrown Out
17 March 2009 12:10 AM, PDT
A Manhattan judge has thrown out a lawsuit against the creators of Family Guy after they were accused of copyright infringement for allegedly parodying classic composition When You Wish Upon A Star.
Music publisher Bourne co., filed suit against Fox Broadcasting Co., the animated comedy's creator Seth MacFarlane and producers for breach of copyright in 2007 for the use of the song in an episode.
The publishing company, which owns the rights to the song famously used in Walt Disney's 1940 film Pinocchio, claimed Family Guy had damaged the tune after an alleged thinly veiled copy mixed with "new anti-Semitic lyrics" was used in an episode entitled When You Wish Upon a Weinstein.
But U.S. District Judge Deborah Batts dismissed the case on Monday - insisting Family Guy bosses were well within their rights to use the music as its copyright didn't protect it from parody.
Judge Batts added that the song was at risk of being ridiculed because of its wholesome reputation.
She told the court, "It is precisely that beneficial association that opens the song up to ridicule by parodists seeking to take the wind out of such lofty, magical, or pure associations."
Copyright Case Over "When You Wish Upon A Star" Thrown Out Of Court
