Family Guy has won a court battle over copyright infringement with the publishers of "When You Wish Upon A Star." See, Seth McFarlane did a little song parody of the Pinocchio classic, with "new Anti-Semitic lyrics." Which Bourne Publishing Co., the copyright owner of the song, felt damaged the original. Not so, said a judge:
U.S. District Judge Deborah Batts ruled that the lyrics and tone of the song used in "Family Guy" were "strikingly different."
The judge also said it was fair for it to be imitated for humorous effect since the music publisher had benefited from the song's association with other more "wholesome" shows like "Pinocchio."
"It is precisely that beneficial association that opens the song up for ridicule by parodists seeking to take the wind out of such lofty, magical, or pure associations," she said.
Amen, Judge Deborah Batts. Score one for the parodists. And, to celebrate, we've got video of a now-victorious McFarlane doing the song live, as Peter Griffin, from a Family Guy Sings! performance in Chicago...
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