CBS Faces Suit for ‘Andy Griffith’ Theme Use on Digital, DVD (1)

CBS‘s DVD and digital sales of “The Andy Griffith Show” infringe the copyright of its theme song’s composers, a complaint filed in the Central District of California alleges.

CBS’s right to use the theme song was based on a 1978 agreement that doesn’t include the right to distribute it electronically or on home video, the complaint, filed May 23, says.

Earle Hagen and Herbert Spencer composed the “Theme for The Andy Griffith Show.” According to the complaint, Hagen Publishing Inc. and Spencer Larabee Publishing own a copyright registration in the composition.

Hagen and Spencer say that CBS’s right to ...