Did American Pie have to license the name from Don McLean?
Did American Pie have to license the name from Don McLean in order to call the movie American Pie, since the title was taken directly from the song?
Best Answer
Maybe. We don't know the details but according to a press release:
Singer-songwriter Don McLean, whose song "American Pie" is among the most popular in pop music history, issued a statement today through his attorney regarding the motion picture of the same title. Said Bert Deixler, of the Los Angeles law firm of McCambridge, Deixler & Marmaro: "I wish to state on Mr. McLean's behalf that, in response to many inquiries from fans throughout the world, neither Mr. McLean or his song are related in any way to the Universal motion picture "American Pie." However, Mr. McLean, as the owner of the title, came to an agreement with Universal with regard to the use of his trademark. Mr. McLean adds that he has not seen the motion picture."
Whether they had to would have been up to a jury had McLean sued. Trade mark and copyright law is complicated like that.
Pictures about "Did American Pie have to license the name from Don McLean?"
Is American Pie copyrighted?
Say the recording artist Madonna wants to record the song \u201cAmerican Pie,\u201d originally written by Don McLean. As the author, Don McLean originally owned he copyrights to the song. However, he has transferred his rights to this song (and perhaps others) to a publishing company, Benny Bird Company, Inc.How much did Don McLean make off of American Pie?
Don McLean "American Pie" Royalties: The song "American Pie" is played around the world on radio hundreds of times per day, every day. Decades later, McLean earns $300,000 \u2013 $500,000 per year in royalties off his hit. Since 1990 he his catalogue has been represented by Universal Music Publishing Group.What does Drove my Chevy to the levy mean?
The line occurs in Don McLean's song American Pie. Chevy is a Chevrolet motor car and a levy (usually spelled levee) is a pier or quay. It was dry because there was no water where there should have been.Is American Pie about Buddy Holly?
Read below for excerpts from the interview. Buddy Holly offers a jumping off point for the song, but \u201cAmerican Pie\u201d isn't about Holly, McLean said. He wrote the first verse in one sitting, later expanding the track into a rock 'n' roll epic capturing the loss of American innocence.Don McLean On The Meaning Of ‘American Pie’ | Studio 10
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