Celebrity Justice
Grandma Got Run Over by a Lawsuit!

Posted Nov 28th 2007 2:13PM by TMZ Staff

The man who sang the classic Christmas song about a drunken Granny getting mowed down by Santa is being sued by a company claiming he interfered in a $1 million merchandising deal. We believe!
Click to read the court papers
The Fred Rappoport Co. was one of the producers behind the 2000 animated show, "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" -- inspired by the 1979 song of the same name, sung by Elmo Shropshire and his then-wife, Patsy. Rappoport claims it has the right to use the song for products featuring characters from that show.

But Shropshire says the rights to the song are his, saying Rappoport "can sell any characters he wants from the movie, but I own the copyright from the song. He can't use the song without my permission."

According to the lawsuit, Shropshire sent cease-and-desist letters to two companies with whom Rappoport had merchandising deals. Rappoport is seeking at least $2 million in damages.

Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Wacky & Weird


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1. FIIIIRST

Posted at 2:29PM on Nov 28th 2007 by Britters

2. WTF do people who put the "First" post up because thats the only time they have ever been first in something ? what a idiot

Posted at 2:36PM on Nov 28th 2007 by b

3. Yoda got ran over by.....

Posted at 2:37PM on Nov 28th 2007 by P-Type

4.

I love that song. It never ceases to make me laugh.


Posted at 2:38PM on Nov 28th 2007 by OCD

5. BRITNEY SPEARS!!!!!

Posted at 2:38PM on Nov 28th 2007 by P-Type

6. Why does he hate America and God so much?

Posted at 2:40PM on Nov 28th 2007 by FlBiker

7. Ah, the true spirit of Christmas!

Posted at 2:45PM on Nov 28th 2007 by Sandy

8. All you posters crack me up, lol

so this is not about Britney spears, oh sorry is about grandma getting run over by a reindeer, I LOOOOOOVE THAT SONG TOOO!!!!

Grandma got run over by a reindeer, walking home from our house Christimas eve, you can say there's no such thing as Santa but as for me and grandpa we believe!!!!! etc. etc.

Merry Christmas everyone!!!! Love and Peace to y'all

Posted at 2:55PM on Nov 28th 2007 by YoSoyAsi

9. GATOR, even though the song and show are old, the actions causing the lawsuit (the cease-and-desist letters) are recent. DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH

Posted at 3:04PM on Nov 28th 2007 by wanked

10. Skip over to US for a wild NEW Spears story...you won't believe it!

Posted at 3:09PM on Nov 28th 2007 by US Rules

11. I like the Yoopers version: "Grampa got run over by a beer truck."

Posted at 4:23PM on Nov 28th 2007 by Sylderon

12. My Grandmother was so offended by that song...LOL.

Posted at 4:27PM on Nov 28th 2007 by Dawn Day

13. INSPIRED MEANS TAKEN FROM,, Rappoport Stole the Idea from the Song that was Famous First in 1979,That was the Biggest Holiday hit single at the time,The Song and Title is Copyrighted ,Whos Infringing Who

Posted at 4:55PM on Nov 28th 2007 by ted

14. Talk about making a little go a long way... I still love that song but it should never have seen the light of day as a tv special. The cartoon is stupid as hell. He needs to comb through those contracts to make sure he didn't sign away the rights to everything, Hollywood producers are a shade shady.

Posted at 1:27AM on Nov 29th 2007 by Chilly

15. Always thought Merle Haggard should have sued this Elmo dude, since the music in GGROBR is a direct lift of "If we make it through December"...

Posted at 10:36AM on Nov 29th 2007 by Darn Floor

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