December 22, 2000 03:37pm
Bawdy Xmas album distributor settles copyright suit
Source: Reuters/Variety
(NEW YORK, NY) -- The distributor of an album featuring lewd versions of such Yuletide standards as ``Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer'' and ``I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,'' agreed Friday to settle a copyright infringement case brought by the songwriters and publishers.
Kissimmee, Fla.-based Party On Parody Productions Ltd. and owner Scott Gordon agreed to pay undisclosed damages to each of the copyright owners, according to the National Music Publishers' Association Inc., which supported the suit.
It also agreed to destroy all remaining unsold copies and obey an injunction by District Judge William Pauley of the Southern District Court of New York barring all future sales or distribution of the album. It also issued an apology.
``This action involved a defendant that took entire, popular songs belonging to others, simply substituted lyrics -- in this case blatantly pornographic ones -- for the originals, and sold thousands of copies for profit through the Internet and in retail outlets'' Edward Murphy, president and chief executive of the National Music Publishers' Association Inc., said in a statement. The association supported the litigation.
``That's called copyright infringement,'' Murphy said.
Songs on the ``Rated X Mas'' CD and tape also included bawdy takeoffs of ``Santa Claus is Comin' To Town,'' ``Frosty the Snowman,'' ``Winter Wonderland,'' ``Jingle Bell Rock,'' and ``A Holly, Jolly Christmas.''
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