LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lee Mendelson Film Productions, the owner of the music from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and other “Peanuts” television specials, has filed four lawsuits against various defendants, including the U.S. Department of the Interior. The company alleges that these parties illegally utilized the music of renowned pianist Vince Guaraldi in their social media posts and a video game, prompting legal action.
The lawsuits were lodged in federal courts located in New York and Washington, D.C. In addition to the U.S. Department of the Interior, the defendants encompass a video game company, an auction house, and a belt-making company. One specific lawsuit claims that the Interior Department lacked permission to use Guaraldi's arrangement of “O Tannenbaum” from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” in a digital holiday card shared on social media platforms.
Responding to the allegations, the Interior Department stated in an email to the Associated Press that it does not comment on ongoing litigation. Another lawsuit targets Heritage Auctions, asserting that the auction house illegally employed “Linus and Lucy,” a non-Christmas tune beloved by fans and often associated with the “Peanuts” franchise, in promotional posts on Facebook and Instagram for an auction featuring collectibles.
Christina Rees, a representative for Heritage Auctions, commented via email, stating that the auction house has not yet been served with or reviewed the complaint. She assured that Heritage would evaluate the allegations and respond appropriately once they receive the complaint. Attempts to reach the other defendants for comments went unanswered.
Founded by Lee Mendelson—who collaborated with “Peanuts” creator Charles Schulz and director Bill Melendez—Lee Mendelson Film Productions is based in Burlingame, California. The company gained recognition for producing several iconic television specials stemming from Schulz's comic strip, beginning with “A Charlie Brown Christmas” in 1965. Mendelson, who passed away in 2019, is credited with hiring jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi to craft the music that became synonymous with the specials, including tracks like “Christmas Time Is Here” and “Linus and Lucy.”
The decision to pursue legal action came as the company observed a growing trend of unauthorized usages of Guaraldi's music in the digital realm, which they described as intolerable. Attorney Marc Jacobson, representing Lee Mendelson Film Productions, stated that the company would “no longer tolerate” entities using their intellectual property without a license, particularly given the current climate of rapid digital sharing. He emphasized the importance of protecting the rights of creators and preserving iconic cultural assets.
Peanuts Worldwide LLC, which holds the rights to characters such as Charlie Brown and Snoopy, is not involved in any of the lawsuits at this time. The fourth lawsuit also targets GameMill Entertainment, the publisher behind a 2025 “Peanuts” video game titled Snoopy & The Great Mystery Club. This lawsuit alleges that the game publisher violated copyright by including new music compositions that are intended to evoke Guaraldi’s work, specifically "Linus and Lucy" and “Skating,” without obtaining the necessary permissions. The plaintiffs argue that the derivative music compositions too closely resemble the originals, thus requiring authorization.
In terms of financial restitution, Lee Mendelson Film Productions is seeking varying amounts from each of the defendants, including at least $300,000 from GameMill. Additionally, the company is requesting that the court issue an injunction to prevent the alleged copyright violations from continuing and to ensure they are not repeated in the future.
