QUICK TAKES - July 22, 2009
Jackson Browne has settled a lawsuit and received an apology from Sen. John McCain and the Republican Party over use of his song “Running on Empty” during last year’s presidential campaign.
The settlement announced Tuesday includes a pledge by the GOP not to use any musician’s work without proper permission in future campaigns, a statement that Browne said he hoped would benefit other artists.
Browne sued McCain, the Republican National Committee and the Ohio Republican Party last year over use of “Running on Empty” in a Web ad mocking Democrat Barack Obama’s proposed energy policies.
The lawsuit said Browne was concerned that use of his music would cause people to conclude that he was endorsing McCain, even though the 60-year-old singer-songwriter is a self-described liberal and contributed to Obama’s campaign.
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