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Celebrity Justice11/28/2007 4:13 PM PST BY TMZ STAFF
Grandma Got Run Over by a Lawsuit!

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.

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Reader Comments

(Page 1 of 2) | 1 | 2 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments
1.

Britters:  1537 days ago

FIIIIRST

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2.

OCD:  1537 days ago



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


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3.

Ted:  1537 days ago

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

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4.

P-Type:  1537 days ago

Yoda got ran over by.....

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5.

P-Type:  1537 days ago

BRITNEY SPEARS!!!!!

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6.

Dawn Day:  1537 days ago

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

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7.

FlBiker:  1537 days ago

Why does he hate America and God so much?

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8.

GATOR:  1537 days ago

OMG AND HOW LONG DID IT TAKE FOR THEM TO SUE?.....
DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

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9.

Sandy:  1537 days ago

Ah, the true spirit of Christmas!

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10.

Angela:  1537 days ago

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

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11.

DEX:  1537 days ago

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

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12.

Lawyer:  1537 days ago

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

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13.

Sylderon:  1537 days ago

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

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14.

bob:  1537 days ago

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

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15.

Chilly:  1537 days ago

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.

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