Tom Petty Driven To Copyright Lawsuit Against B.F. Goodrich
Ocala Star-Banner - March 6, 1987
Rock singer-composer Tom Petty has won the first round in a copyright suit against B.F. Goodrich Co., which he says is using a variation of his song "Mary's New Car" in commercials for radial tires.
U.S. District Judge J. Spencer Letts in Los Angeles on Wednesday banned Goodrich from using the advertisement pending another hearing March 13.
Goodrich's ad agency, Grey Advertising Inc., tried to buy the rights to "Mary's New Car" last August, but Petty refused, his lawyers said.
Petty never licenses any of his songs for commercial use, said lawyers Alan G. Dowling because, "His music is identified with a particular group of people who have negative reactions to the commercialization of music."