Family Sue Emi Over Santa Song
By WENNMonday, December 21, 2009
The estate of songwriter HAVEN GILLESPIE has filed suit against record company bosses at EMI over allegations of unpaid royalties from the star’s festive tune SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN.
In legal papers filed in Manhattan federal court in New York, the Gillespie family claim EMI - which owns the rights to the song outside of the U.S. - has failed to hand over profits amounting to six-figures from its international use.
EMI representatives have declined to comment on the case.
The traditional Christmas song was written by Gillespie and J. Fred Coots and first sung on radio in 1934.
It has since been covered by the likes of Aerosmith, Dolly Parton, Destiny’s Child, Miley Cyrus and Green Day.
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