Don Henley Settles Damages Claims And Gets Apology Following Court Ruling That Politician Infringed Songs

After winning a federal court ruling that the use of their copyrighted songs in campaign ads was infringing, musicians Don Henley, Mike Campbell and Danny Kortchmar have agreed to settle their damages claims against California politician Chuck DeVore and campaign worker Justin Hart for an undisclosed amount.

The lawsuit was filed after DeVore and Hart made videos using the Henley hit songs The Boys of Summer, written by Henley and Campbell, and All She Wants To Do Is Dance, written by Kortchmar, to promote DeVore’s recent attempt to run for the U.S. Senate.

DeVore and Hart posted the campaign ads on YouTube and other sites. Rejecting the defendants’ claim that the videos were fair use “parodies,” the court found that the defendants’ use of the songs violated the plaintiffs’ copyrights.

DeVore and Hart issued the following statement: “We apologize for using the musical works of Don Henley, Mike Campbell and Danny Kortchmar without respect for their rights under copyright law. The court’s ruling in this case confirms that political candidates, regardless of affiliation, should seek appropriate license authority before they use copyrighted works.

“Further, we regret all inaccurate, derogatory or disparaging remarks made about Mr. Henley during the course of this dispute.”

Don Henley commented, “My colleagues and I brought this lawsuit to protect our music from being taken and used, without permission, to promote someone else’s agenda. It was not a question of political ideology, but the right of artists to control the use of the works they create, and protect their livelihoods.”

Source: MI2N