Al I Want For Christmas Is a Quick Settlement (Even Ten Grand Will Do)

I had to check, but the Pointer Sisters’ album that contained “Jump (For My Love)” was released before Van Halen’s album that contained “Jump.” So different title and released in a different order. Maybe Van Halen can sue Kris Kross instead.

I know that I for one can’t be bothered to look up the alt code for umlauts.

My guess: he is well aware this case has no merits. He is hoping he can use the case to drum up interest (out of sheer curiosity) in his song to get more royalties.

Given the precedent of how many different pop songs out there share the same titles, I would guess this case would get shot down on merits. For reference to just a few songs like this (not a comprehensive list, by any means), see:

Just last week I was made to reckon with my mortality due to a comment from an 18-year-old who confidently asserted that “All I Want for Christmas is You” was Mariah Carey’s only hit; can I sue for that?

Probably longer than it is for rape or assault.

Putting off a lawsuit for 28 years is next level procrastination.

And there’s no copyright in a title anyway…

It’s like he saw that motivational poster saying “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take” and this was the best shot he could think of.

Just its title—and, we guess, the basic concept of missing someone at Christmastime.

I can’t see how this will move forward. From www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-protect.html:

That whole music video is the most 80s Karaoke-looking thing I’ve seen in a while.

Also wonder what the statue of limitations is on these things, as its been 28 years.

So when does Van Halen sue The Pointer Sisters for “Jump?”

Song titles are a grey area when it comes to copyright laws, so I’m not sure they can use that argument. There were three big hit songs with the title “Heartbreak Hotel” and the Elvis estate made no moves to sue either Michael Jackson or the songwriters of the Whitney Houston song. And they sound nothing alike. MJ did…

If the suit itself isn’t enough to have it immediately thrown out, one look at Vince Vance should do the trick.

There is none other than hope someone cuts him a check because the Marvin Gaye Blurred lines lawsuit has everything messed up and easier to just pay and not risk going to court.

I am having trouble trying to determine what the actual legal argument here would be here, especially given the long delay in filing.

Vance is right that his song—one of only two Valiants songs that ever charted, along with “Barbara Ann” parody “Bomb Iran”—predates Carey’s by about five years,