Loyola of Los Angeles Entertainment Law Review Volume 14 Number 1 Article 5 9-1-1993 Every Little Thing I Do (Incurs Legal Liability): Unauthorized use of Popular Music in Presidential Campaigns Erik Gunderson Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/elr Part of the Law Commons Recommended Citation Erik Gunderson, Every Little Thing I Do (Incurs Legal Liability): Unauthorized use of Popular Music in Presidential Campaigns, 14 Loy. L.A. Ent. L. Rev. 137 (1993). Available at: https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/elr/vol14/iss1/5 This Notes and Comments is brought to you for free and open access by the Law Reviews at Digital Commons @ Loyola Marymount University and Loyola Law School. It has been accepted for inclusion in Loyola of Los Angeles Entertainment Law Review by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons@Loyola Marymount University and Loyola Law School. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. EVERY LITTLE THING I DO (INCURS LEGAL LIABILITY): UNAUTHORIZED USE OF POPULAR MUSIC IN PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS I. INTRODUCTION: A COMMON, IF ILLEGAL, PRACTICE In 1984, Ronald Reagan's re-election campaign used the Bruce Springsteen song, "Born in the U.S.A.,"' to convey energy and patriotism to the crowds of Reagan supporters and the ever vigilant media.2 Bruce Springsteen himself did not approve of or authorize the use of the song.3 Following the Reagan campaign's example, the practice of a political cam- has become a feature taken paign using popular music without authorization 4 almost for granted in the contemporary political landscape. This Comment will argue that the common practice of using popular songs without permission in presidential campaigns is illegal.