When you hear the name Elmo Shropshire, the idea of a singer that made millions from a song isn't the first thing that comes to your mind.
Yet that's exactly what happened when the veterinarian Dr.Elmo Shropshire and wife Patsy singing on the side as somewhat of a comedy-country duo, came out with the now famous "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer." The song had actually been out since 1979, before it was picked up by Epic Records and went gold in 1984.
The name of the duo, in case you don't know, was Elmo and Patsy. The two have divorced since the big days of quick fame.
Anyway, Elmo, who holds the rights to the song, has been sued for breach of contract by the Fred Rappoport Co., who is seeking $2 million in damages.
It all started in with a settlement of a lawsuit filed by Shropshire in 2004. Rappaport claims under the terms of the settlement, his company had the right to use the song for products that featured characters from an animated TV program, aired in 2000.
On the other hand, Shropshire recently sent cease-and-desist orders to two companies that made a deal with Rappaport to market products based on characters from the show.
The issue isn't the products, but the song, which Shropshire still holds the copyright to. Shropshire asserts that under those conditions the song can't be used without his permission.
Shropshire said: "The song preceded the (animated) show by 20 years. There are a number of companies that license that song from us to make toys and to make CDs and to make a number of things. They're not going to feel so good if we allow someone else to use it for free."
And in the spirit of the song, the lawsuit could end up in court right about at Christmas time. Can't we all just get along?
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