Posted on 11/30/2007 1:12:20 PM PST by Red Badger
LOS ANGELES — A feud involving the man who sang "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" could wind up in court, just in time for Christmas. Elmo Shropshire was sued for breach of contract Monday by a company that claims he interfered in a $1 million-plus deal to sell musical trucks, bobblehead dolls, snow globes and cookie jars featuring characters from an animated show based on the novelty song. The tale about Santa mowing down a tipsy grandma with his sleigh was first heard in 1979 and has become a holiday favorite. It inspired a 2000 animated TV program that continues to run seasonally around the world. The Fred Rappoport Co. of California contends it has the rights to use the song for products featuring characters from that program. Rappoport claims it got those specific rights under a 2004 settlement of a lawsuit filed by Shropshire. The new lawsuit, which seeks at least $2 million in damages, was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court. It contends that Shropshire this month improperly sent cease-and-desist letters to two companies that made a deal with Rappoport to market products featuring characters from the animated show. Shropshire, who lives north of San Francisco in Novato, contended Tuesday that he was legally enforcing his rights to the song. Rappoport "can sell any characters he wants from the movie," Shropshire said. "But I own the copyright from the song. He can't use the song without my permission." Shropshire continued: "The song preceded the (animated) show by 20 years. There are a number of companies that license that song from us to make toys and to make CDs and to make a number of things. They're not going to feel so good if we allow someone else to use it for free."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I’m thinking the only ones who are going to win are the lawyers.
With a name like Elmo Shropshire, you gotta be....
Half crazy?
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Elmo Shropshire, better known as Dr. Elmo, is a singer of comedy songs, most notably “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.” He originally recorded the song in 1979 with his then-wife Patsy. He re-recorded it solo in 1992 for the album Dr. Elmo’s Twisted Christmas and again in 2000 for the album Up Your Chimney. He also recorded two albums of year-round songs: Dr. Elmo’s Twisted Tunes (1993) and Love, Death and Taxes (2000).
Elmo is a native of Lexington, Kentucky, and has a degree in veterinary medicine. After moving to San Francisco, he opened an animal hospital and became a competitive runner, all while continuing to play with his bluegrass band. It was then that he recorded “Grandma...” (written by his friend Randy Brooks) and became an instant regional superstar.
Elmo originally invested $40,000 of his own money to produce the original album and music video for “Grandma...” and in return, he’s become “a millionaire five times over” [1]. Since then, Elmo has become part of a class action suit against Sony based upon the royalties paid from digital downloads and ringtone sales. [2]
In a Christmas special titled: “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer,” Dr. Elmo is the voice of grandpa, and preforms a small portion of a song “Gradma’s Spending Christmas with The Superstars.”
With who? The people on the short bus?
Elmo is ok.
I like it!...........
Just heard the South’s version of the 12 days of Christmas. 6 cans of spam is my favorite call!!
The SF Bay Area AM radio crowd. Stations get lots of requests for it. Elmo is a local.
Traditional Christians (there is still a few of us left!) We sing in in church every X-mas.
OMG that’s so funny!!! HEHEHEHEHE!!! It makes me all giddy thinking of osama with a broken reindeer antler up his, um , “dupa” HAHAHA!!!!!
I don’t associate traditional christians, church, and “Grandma got run over by a reindeer”.
Sorry, I like the song, but christian it ain’t.
almost as funny as grandma getting run over by a reindeer
but the video is x -rated so its a much bigger seller
ROFLMAO!!
"Suck on this lemon!"
Simple solution. Create something on your own time that your employer cannot use............
Please tell me the $2 million suit is a class-action by everyone who’s ever heard that song.
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