CBS Buys License for Colbert’s Use of ‘Charlie Brown’ Music (1)

CBS Broadcasting Inc. has agreed to buy a license for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s use of “Charlie Brown” music in its May 21 final broadcast, which the song’s owner said Tuesday that it will donate to charity.

After mentioning recent lawsuits by Lee Mendelson Film Productions and his band played part of the iconic theme “Linus and Lucy,” Colbert quipped “Oh no I hope this doesn’t cost CBS any money.”

Copyright attorneys generally agreed that using a short segment of the music to poke fun at LMFP’s litigiousness and bad blood between Colbert and CBS qualified as fair use.

“LMFP found the music’s use on The Late Show funny and entertaining, and is proud to support World Central Kitchen’s mission,” LMFP Chair Jason Mendelson said in the statement. “A principal goal of our enforcement actions is to educate individuals, businesses and government entities about the need to obtain written license agreements to use music in a commercial setting.”

LMFP indicated in the statement that proceeds from the license CBS purchased will go to the nonprofit founded by Chef Jose Andres, which provides meals during crises around the globe. LMFP noted the Late Show had donated $2.5 million to World Central Kitchen the night before the finale.

CBS didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Colbert’s exit became a national conversation after the Paramount Skydance Corp. entity chose not to renew The Late Show after his 11-year run.

CBS characterized the move as financial, while Colbert tied the decision to his criticisms of President Donald Trump as Paramount sought federal approval of its $8 billion merger with Skydance.

The segment in the finale tied that thread together with LMFP’s litigation, and fans cheered his seeming attempt to stick it to CBS as the clip went viral.

LMFP’s statement said its lawsuits to protect multiple Charlie Brown compositions by Vince Guaraldi against use by a video game company, collectibles auction house, accessories manufacturer, and US Interior Department “are intended to halt a pattern of infringement.”

That pattern “threatens to diminish the integrity of these protected works, the Guaraldi music legacy, and other cherished creative content,” it said.