Lee Mendelson Film Productions, the owner of the music used in the classic 'Peanuts' television specials, has filed lawsuits against multiple defendants including the Trump administration, alleging unauthorised use of the copyrighted compositions in social media posts and a video game.
The lawsuits, filed on Wednesday in federal courts in New York and Washington, D.C., claim that the Interior Department used Vince Guaraldi's arrangement of 'O Tannenbaum' from 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' in a digital holiday card posted to social media without permission. A spokesperson for the Interior Department declined to comment on the litigation.
Other defendants include Heritage Auctions, which is accused of using 'Linus and Lucy' in Facebook and Instagram posts promoting an auction; Buckle-Down Inc., a belt company making 'Peanuts' themed products; and GameMill Entertainment, which allegedly used new compositions mimicking Guaraldi's works in its 2025 video game 'Snoopy & The Great Mystery Club'.
Attorney Marc Jacobson, representing the production company, stated: 'Lee Mendelson Film Productions will no longer tolerate companies using their property without a license, especially in this era of instant digital sharing.' He added that 'the rights of creators and the protection of iconic cultural assets must be vigorously enforced.'
Heritage Auctions representative Christina Rees said the company had not yet been served with the complaint. Peanuts Worldwide LLC, which owns the rights to the characters, is not involved in the lawsuits.
