Good Grief: Owners of Charlie Brown song sue Dollywood

In this Aug. 21, 2013 file photo, Dolly Parton speaks during a news conference in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Dolly Parton’s Dollywood has welcomed a fluffy addition to the amusement park — an eaglet. Media outlets report the eaglet hatched Wednesday, April 17, 2019. A social media post by the park says “welcome to the world, little eaglet!” The Tennessee park says it’s “so excited for this addition to the family.” (Amy Smotherman Burgess/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP)

by: Associated Press

Posted: Oct 11, 2019 / 06:00 AM AST

Updated: Oct 11, 2019 / 06:00 AM AST

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The copyright owners of the “Charlie Brown Christmas” theme song have sued Dollywood in federal court for copyright infringement.

News outlets report the complaint says the East Tennessee theme park named for country star Dolly Parton has used the song without permission in live Christmas performances since 2007.

The lawsuit says Los Angeles-based Lee Mendelson Film Productions owns the copyright and is asking for $150,000 for every time the song has been used.

According to the suit, “Christmas Time is Here” was written by Lee Mendelson and Vince Guaraldi for the 1965 television special “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

Dollywood said it is aware of the lawsuit but declined to comment on pending litigation.