McCain Sued for Using Browne Song

Jackson Browne has sued U.S. presidential candidate John McCain for copyright infringement because the Republican nominee apparently used the singer's 1977 hit, "Running on Empty," in a campaign ad without permission, reported Reuters.

The suit that was filed on Thursday in a U.S. District Court in Los Angeles names the Republican National Committee and the Ohio Republican Party as defendants. The suit is looking for a permanent injunction against further use of the singer's music and at least $75,000 in damages, according to Reuters.

The campaign mocks Barack Obama and his suggestion of conserving the nation's gasoline through proper tire inflation with Browne's most famous song, "Running on Empty," playing in the background. The suit is claiming that the use of the song was without the singer's permission and is a copyright violation and a breach of the U.S. Lanham Act by falsely implying Brown is associated with McCain's bid for presidency, according to Reuters.

Brian Rogers, a spokesman for McCain's campaign, said the senator was wrongly singled out as a target of the lawsuit because the ad was the work of the Ohio Republican Party. Rogers told Reuters, "We had nothing to do with the creation or distribution of this ad whatsoever. Mr. McCain's name should quite simply be removed from this lawsuit immediately."