Posted by PaulB on November 16, 1999 at 17:14:01:
In Reply to: using famous names posted by C J DeWitt on November 15, 1999 at 17:30:44:
: Does a songwriter need permission to use a very well known person's name (in the sports field in this case)in a song? The song is a kind of play on words, but uses his name and is unmistakable who it is about.
Just my opinion and I'm no lawyer but I don't
think you do. It's done is all sorts of songs.
Not just names of real names but products as well.
As a sidenote, I saw where Delores Tucker(a black
lady who I think is involved in an anti-rap
movement) was sueing a rap group for using her
in a song in an unfavorable light. I think the
title even included her name.
I remember about ten years ago, a singer named Mojo Nixon had a song
called "Glen Fry must die." I think this is the
same guy who had a song that I THINK was called
"Debbie Gibson is having my two headed love child"
or something like that. I think you might get
sued if you really put the person in a really
bad light. I'm not sure what happened on the
Glen Fry song although I think it was pulled from
the market.
Just my opinion.
PaulB