(CNN) – The Romney campaign has received a cease-and-desist request from the rock band Silversun Pickups, which alleges illegal use of its song "Panic Switch" at a campaign event in August in North Carolina.
"Seems as if the GOP is once again whimsically ignoring our great nation's laws to do whatever it wants to do, and shooting itself in the foot in the process," band representative Ken Weinstein said in a statement Wednesday.
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"Without any regard for copyright or intellectual property laws, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has, without permission, begun to use Silversun Pickups' 2009 smash 'Panic Switch' at campaign stops across the country," the band said.
Romney spokeswoman, Amanda Henneberg, responded to the request saying, "The song was inadvertently played during event set-up before Gov. Romney arrived at the location."
"As anyone who attends Gov. Romney's events knows, this is not a song we would have played intentionally. That said, it was covered under the campaign's regular blanket license, but we will not play it again," said Henneberg.
In their statement, Silversun Pickups said, "Neither the band nor its representatives were contacted to gain permission for the use of the song, and the band has no intention of endorsing the Romney campaign. The band's attorney issued a cease-and-desist today."
"We're nice, approachable people. We won't bite. Unless you're Mitt Romney!" lead singer and guitarist Brian Aubert said. "We were very close to just letting this go, because the irony was too good. While he is inadvertently playing a song that describes his whole campaign, we doubt that 'Panic Switch' really sends the message he intends."
This is far from the first time a campaign has been asked to stop playing a band's music at campaign events. For example, the composer of the popular song "Eye of the Tiger" filed a copyright infringement complaint against Newt Gingrich during the Republican primary season earlier this year. And, during his 2008 campaign, soul singer Sam Moore asked then-senator Obama to stop using his song "Soul Man."
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Who? They should be happy their "song" gets any airtime. Who needs them Romney, they will be kicking themselves in the pants when they realize that they could have been the campaign song for the next President (regardless of what you think dems).
Romney/Ryan 2012
And I liked Silversun...I didn't want to know their politics. With their childish rant in their request to the Romney campaign (not all of which is in this article), now I know their politics, and they made it clear that's really why they didn't want the Romney campaign to use it. Oh No! Someone playing the song the band doesn't agree with politically! That never happens, ever. Get over yoursleves, Silversun. They should've kept it strictly legal and left the politics out of it if they simply didn't want their song played by an organization.
Typical Mitt Robme. When he's not outsourcing American jobs and stealing our money, he's stealing people's songs. What a looser. Just imagine this troll wants to be POTUS where he can make important decisions affecting our personal lives, yet he's unwilling to release his tax returns which are less personal than the intrusion he and his cronies are willing to perpetrate into our pesronal lives. Pathetic!
Be thankful, at least someone heard of them now
Every time one of these stories happens (and they're frequent) to dems or repubs, the bands show themselves to be whiney losers. And this bands statement in doing so takes the prize in losership. Pathetic wannabes. They wish people cared about their political opinions.
To the people who are commenting here that the band is irrelevant, or who cares what the band says or their politics, or that the band should just be happy that someone is playing their music, etc.: Why are you so willing to tolerate someone breaking the copyright laws? We are rightfully angry with the Chinese and others for ignoring our copyright laws. People constantly complain about slippery slopes, so why should anyon be just fine in letting this go? Regardless of one's politics, the Romney campaign has repeatedly broken copyright law. It shows that either they think they are above those laws, or more likely they are just a poorly run and sloppy campaign and think that these details aren't worth thinking about too much.
Holy Cow! This band's leader needs to calm down. The campaign only used his song once and he is throwing a hissy fit. That's fine, normally, but it's apparent his bias against the GOP and Mitt Romney. Making a big ol' stink. It's not like Romney's campaign is making it their campaign song or anything.....let it go.
Seems they are just trying to stretch out their 15 minutes of fame.
A blanket license does not give you the right to use someone else's intellectual property as you please. If that were the case, Napster would have avoided their lawsuit by strictly offering a "blanket license". Romney is so sneaky and I will not vote for him. Everytime he gets his hand caught in the cookie jar, he either says "I thought I could get away with it." or he refuses to answer why he did it to begin with. Cannot be trusted.
Romney is an arrogant elitist... Why should he have to pay for anything ?
Some of you are so childish! Just because this group does not want their music illegally used, you would stop listening to it? The real truth is you assume they are against GOP and Romney so you will boycot them. That is the problem with the GOP, you can't have an independent thought or action without being cut from the will, where is the democracy with these folk!!
Please talk about anything but the ecomomy!!!!!
Obama 2012
"... Could I be anything you want me to be ... "
I totally understand why Mitt might have wanted this particular verse to be played during his campaign photo-op. A real weather-vane pander moment for his supporters to hold on to.
Typical Republican tactic. Only follow the laws that benefit them, then bash the people who call them out on it. Pathetic Losers! (At least they will be in November!)
This happens every election cycle. The pubbers get hit with this more often than the dems, but that's 'cuz musicians, with some notable exceptions, tend to be more liberal. How come they can't contract with the bands and pay their royalties, like honest business people?
Hey! They didn't write that! Somebody helped them....
When are bands going to learn that people hearing their music is a good thing? The manager of this band would do well to explain to them that a broader audience is a good thing. I don't want to know their politics any more than I want to know that of the Dixie Chicks or Toby Keith. If they want to donate money to Obama great, but don't be whiners. Besides, this was not copyright infringement anyway. I have loosely followed Silversun Pickups, and, as I can tell, they aren't getting a lot of hits these days. Maybe they think making a scene over nothing will get them some headlines. In that regard I guess it worked. I'd much rather people appreciate me for my art than my gimmicks. Just me.
This is a nearly annual event. The GOP ignoring copyright and fair-use laws of the United States- quite often the self-same laws they claim they'll get tough with China over.
Message: Laws don't apply to the GOP, and; we're not doing anything with China. Business as usual.
Forget the music nonsense, more important to know why Romney won't release his tax returns. Is he hiding something? Did he not pay any taxes for ten years?
They should have used one of Ted Nugent's songs (which I never heard) since Nugent is campaigning for the repugs and threatening to revolt against our democracy if our President is re-elected.
I've never heard of Silversun Pickups so I googled them. Reminded me of an OWS protest. What a bunch ov loosers.
If Romney campaign never contacted the band for permission to use its song, then there is no way that it was covered under the campaign's regular blanket license – just legally no way. So that is a Romney lie. Additionally, if it was in taped music they played and set up, then it is very likely they were playing it all over the place illegally. Laws and regulations apply to Romney too, just like everyone else.
If Romney campaign never contacted the bank for permission to use its songs, then there is no way it was covered under the campaign's regular blanket license as a Romney official states. Additionally, if it was taped with other songs in their campaign set ups, then it most likely was played all over the place. More lies from Romney campaign. The laws and regulations apply to Romney just like anyone else – even if he thinks he is above reproach.
So the guy who makes $20 million in capital gains thinks he doesn't have to pay for the use of someone's song? Amazing. The rich have such an entitled attitude.
Never heard of them, they should contribute to Romney now for every album they sell cause of this. !!!!!