Paul Harvey Estate Sues Paramount

The estate of the late broadcaster Paul Harvey has filed a lawsuit against Paramount Global, alleging the unauthorized use of a 90-second audio clip from Harvey’s 2008 “Gas Crisis” broadcast in the season finale of the TV series “Landman.” The suit, filed Monday in the Southern District Court of New York, claims that Paramount used the clip without the permission of Paulynne, the company founded by Harvey and his wife, Lynne Cooper Harvey.

Paul Harvey

According to The Wrap, the complaint, the clip—featured in Season 1, Episode 10 of “Landman,” titled “The Crumbs of Hope,” which premiered on Paramount+ on January 12—was edited out of context to align with the show’s pro-oil industry narrative. The segment, which discusses how rising gas prices are manipulated by governments and corporations, was introduced with Harvey’s iconic “Now, the rest of the story” phrase, making it clear to viewers that it was sourced from his “The Rest of the Story” program.

The lawsuit alleges that Paramount ignored attempts by Paulynne’s counsel to resolve the issue, including a March 14 letter and follow-up phone call. It describes Paramount’s actions as “willful” and ongoing, violating Paulynne’s copyrights and resulting in financial losses due to lost licensing revenue. Paulynne is seeking a court order to remove the “Gas Crisis” clip from all Paramount platforms, a cease-and-desist on its further use, and monetary damages for the infringement.

“Paramount not only used a substantial copyrighted audio clip without permission but also distorted Mr. Harvey’s message through editing,” said Jaime Wolf, Paulynne’s lead attorney at Pelosi Wolf Spates LLP. “In audio licensing, 90 seconds is significant, and this misuse cannot be ignored.”