LEWISVILLE, TX (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) —
A Judge in California District Court ruled that politician Chuck Devore’s new lyrics to “The Boys of Summer” and “All She Wants to Do is Dance” are not a fair use under the Copyright Act.
Songwriters Don Henley and Mike Campbell sued California Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, R-Irvine for copyright infringement for the alleged unauthorized use of the song “The Boys of Summer.” Henley also filed sued for copyright infringement for “All She Wants To Do Is Dance” — which he penned himself.
DeVore used the two songs in separate political campaign videos that were posted on YouTube. Henley requested YouTube removed the videos. The videos were removed for a time and then reposted on YouTube until Henley filed this lawsuit.
DeVore changed the lyrics of “All She Wants To Do Is Dance” to “All She Wants To Do is Tax” to target his opponent in the 2010 California Assembly race. He changed the lyrics of “Boys of Summer’ to “After The Hope of November Is Gone.”
The judge ruled the new lyrics did not rise to the level required for parody, which is a defense to copyright infringement. The new work (the revised lyrics) must be used to make fun of or ridicule the original work or even the author of the original work.
–by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
