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Peanuts Music Rights Holder Sues Over Unauthorized Use of Vince Guaraldi Tunes

nbcnewyork.com - Jun 14, 2026

Lee Mendelson Film Productions, the owner of the music rights for 'Peanuts' television specials, has filed four lawsuits alleging illegal use of Vince Guaraldi's compositions. The report indicates the plaintiffs are suing the U.S. Department of the Interior, a video game publisher, an auction house, and a belt manufacturer. Specific claims include the Interior Department using Guaraldi's 'O Tannenbaum' arrangement in a digital holiday card without permission. Additionally, GameMill Entertainment faces allegations for using copycat versions of tracks like 'Linus and Lucy' in their 2025 game 'Snoopy & The Great Mystery Club.' The suits argue these new compositions are too close to the originals to avoid copyright requirements. Readers should follow the original source link for the full story on these legal actions.