LOS ANGELES (AP) — The owner of the iconic music from 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' and other 'Peanuts' television specials escalated its legal battle on Wednesday, filing four separate lawsuits against entities including the U.S. Department of the Interior. The suits allege the unauthorized use of the beloved jazz compositions by pianist Vince Guaraldi in social media posts and a video game.
Lawsuits Target Multiple Defendants
Lee Mendelson Film Productions, the company behind the classic holiday specials, filed the lawsuits in federal courts in New York and Washington, D.C. The defendants named in the suits include the Interior Department, video game publisher GameMill Entertainment, auction house Heritage Auctions, and belt manufacturer Buckle-Down Inc.
Interior Department Accused of Copyright Infringement
One of the lawsuits claims that the Interior Department used Guaraldi's arrangement of 'O Tannenbaum' from 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' in a digital holiday card posted on social media without obtaining the necessary permission. The department has declined to comment on the litigation, stating in an email to The Associated Press that it does not discuss ongoing legal matters.
Heritage Auctions and Buckle-Down Face Similar Allegations
Another lawsuit alleges that Heritage Auctions illegally used 'Linus and Lucy,' the iconic non-Christmas piece that has become synonymous with the 'Peanuts' franchise, in Facebook and Instagram posts to promote an auction of collectibles. Similarly, Buckle-Down Inc., a belt company that produces 'Peanuts'-themed merchandise, is accused of misusing the music in its social media marketing.
Christina Rees, a representative of Heritage Auctions, stated in an email, 'At this time, Heritage has not been served with or reviewed the complaint. If and when we receive it, we will review the allegations and respond as appropriate.' Messages seeking comment from Buckle-Down and GameMill were not immediately returned.
Background on Lee Mendelson Film Productions
Lee Mendelson Film Productions, based in Burlingame, California, was founded by the late Lee Mendelson, who collaborated with 'Peanuts' creator Charles Schulz and director Bill Melendez to produce the beloved television specials. Mendelson hired jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi to compose the music, including classics like 'Christmas Time Is Here' and 'Linus and Lucy.'
The company decided to take sweeping legal action after what it described as an increasingly intolerable volume of unauthorized digital use of its music. Attorney Marc Jacobson stated, 'Lee Mendelson Film Productions will no longer tolerate companies using their property without a license, especially in this era of instant digital sharing. The rights of creators and the protection of iconic cultural assets must be vigorously enforced.'
Video Game Publisher Also Targeted
The fourth lawsuit alleges that GameMill Entertainment, in its 2025 'Peanuts' video game 'Snoopy & The Great Mystery Club,' violated copyright by incorporating new musical compositions that closely mimic Guaraldi's works, including 'Linus and Lucy' and 'Skating.' The plaintiffs argue that no permission was sought for the music and that the copycat versions are too similar to the originals to avoid infringement.
Lee Mendelson Film Productions is seeking varying financial damages from the defendants, including at least $300,000 from GameMill. In each case, the plaintiff is also requesting a judge's injunction to immediately halt the alleged copyright violations and prevent their recurrence.
Peanuts Worldwide LLC, which owns the rights to the characters, is not a party in any of the lawsuits.
