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David Byrne Sues Florida Governor for $1 Million Over Song Use

David Byrne is suing the governor of Florida, claiming that he used the Talking Heads song 'Road to Nowhere' without permission.

The band's former frontman is seeking $1 million (£700,000) from Gov. Charlie Crist over the use of the 1985 single in his senatorial campaign, backing an online ad that attacked his then Republican primary opponent Marco Rubio.

Byrne's lawyers filed his case on Monday, May 24, at a court in Tampa, Fla., even though Crist dropped the ad after he was contacted by Warner Bros. Records.


Byrne told Billboard.com that a friend in his home city of New York told him about the ad. "I was pretty upset by that," he said. "In my opinion the damage had already been done by it being out there. People that I knew had seen [the ad], so it had gotten around."

The suit, he adds, "is not about politics ... It's about copyright and about the fact that it does imply that I would have licensed it and endorsed him and whatever he stands for."

While Crist is now running as an independent candidate, his former Republican rival has also stepped on musical toes. Rubio used the Steve Miller Band's 1976 track 'Take the Money and Run' for an anti-Crist ad, only removing it after Miller complained, Billboard reported.

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David

Can't sell the music NOONE has heard of so on a technicality try to make a MILLION. Lawyers will try to make a buck any way they can. Sad.

May 25 2010 at 8:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Romi

Toby Keith said in an interview that he is a registered democrat but votes conservative.

May 25 2010 at 4:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
charlesharris53

i am going to sue each and everyone of you over this dribble you post. but first you have to send me your name, bank acct #, passwords, address, pictures of your dogs and how many live in your household. e-mail information to idiotgov.org/asm

May 25 2010 at 3:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
charlesharris53

i am going to sue each and everyone of you over this dribble you post. but first you have to send me your name, bank acct #, passwords, address, pictures of your dogs and how many live in your household. e-mail information to idiotgov.org/asm

May 25 2010 at 3:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Frank Correira

David Byrne is a genius... and Crist is a thief... let him pay

May 25 2010 at 2:58 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
RD

Can't wait for Charlie to take his tan elsewhere and leave politics to the real leaders in FL.

May 25 2010 at 2:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
stevef

Is David Byrne serious with that photo? It just says everything about him.

May 25 2010 at 2:54 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
debiannj

Robertl, how would you feel if Crist came to YOUR house, took over YOUR property, used YOUR car without even asking you if he could, just to get elected to an office. I don't think you'd appreciate that very much. On top of that, if you didn't do anything about it, then people would think that you approved of him doing that.

What Crist's campaign did with the song was theft - pure and simple. I'm surprised that the RIAA didn't get involved in it. But if people can be sued for illegally copying a song, don't you think that it's just as wrong to illegally use a song in an ad?

Gallo Wine had to get permission, and pay to use Vangelis' Hymne to use in their commercial. Why should Crist be allowed to use Bryne's music not only for free, but without his knowledge or consent?

May 25 2010 at 2:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
don

They kind of look the same, don't they?

May 25 2010 at 2:50 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
hank

If it is ok, according to some of you, to steal a persons copyrighted material for a public use that they are looking to profit form, then is it ok if I steal Apple's operating systems and put them online to promote myself? Is it ok if I take any companies copyrighted or patented marieral for promting myself in a public way?

Those of you who have nothing of value to copyright of course think it is fine to steal. When you DO have something of value, you will change your "tune" very quick.

May 25 2010 at 2:44 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply