Owner of 'Peanuts' music sues 3 companies and US government alleging
illegal use of its catchy tunes
[May 21, 2026]
By ANDREW DALTON
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The owner of the music of “A Charlie Brown Christmas”
and other “Peanuts” television specials filed four lawsuits Wednesday
against defendants including the U.S. Department of the Interior,
alleging they illegally used the jazzy ditties of pianist Vince Guaraldi
in social media posts and a video game.
Lee Mendelson Film Productions filed the suits in federal courts in New
York and Washington, D.C. The defendants also include a video game
company, an auction house and a belt-maker.
One lawsuit argues the Interior Department did not have permission to
use Guaraldi's arrangement of “O Tannenbaum” from “A Charlie Brown
Christmas” in a digital holiday card posted to social media.
The department said in an email to The Associated Press that it does not
comment on litigation.
Another lawsuit alleges Heritage Auctions illegally used “Linus and
Lucy” — the beloved non-Christmas song the kids dance to in “A Charlie
Brown Christmas” that has become the de facto “Peanuts” theme — in posts
on Facebook and Instagram promoting an auction of collectibles. Similar
claims of social media misuse come in another suit against Buckle-Down
Inc., a belt company that makes “Peanuts” themed products.
Christina Rees, a representative of Heritage Auctions, said in an email,
“At this time, Heritage has not been served with or reviewed the
complaint. If and when we receive it, we will review the allegations and
respond as appropriate.”
Email messages seeking comments from the other defendants were not
immediately answered.
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 Lee Mendelson Film Productions of
Burlingame, California, was founded by and is named for the producer
who collaborated with “Peanuts” creator Charles Schulz and director
Bill Melendez to create the TV specials based on Schulz's comic
strip, starting with 1965's “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Mendelson,
who died in 2019, hired the jazz pianist Guaraldi to provide the
mellow, often melancholy music, including “Christmas Time Is Here”
and “Linus and Lucy.”
The company decided to take the sweeping action
after what they said was becoming an intolerable digital glut of
unfair use of the music.
Attorney Marc Jacobson said in a statement that Lee Mendelson Film
Productions “will no longer tolerate companies using their property
without a license, especially in this era of instant digital
sharing.” He said “the rights of creators and the protection of
iconic cultural assets must be vigorously enforced.”
Peanuts Worldwide LLC, which owns the rights to Charlie Brown,
Snoopy and the other characters, is not a party in any of the
lawsuits.
The fourth suit alleges video game publisher GameMill Entertainment,
in its 2025 “Peanuts” video game Snoopy & The Great Mystery Club,
violated copyright by using new music compositions meant to invoke
Guaraldi's pieces including “Linus and Lucy” and “Skating.” The
plaintiffs said no permission was sought for the music, and the
copycat versions are too close to the originals not to require it.
Lee Mendelson Film Productions is seeking varying financial damages
from the different defendants, including at least $300,000 from
GameMill. And in every case, the plaintiff is seeking a judge's
injunction that the alleged copyright violations immediately stop
and not be repeated.
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