Last Updated: July 16, 2025
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Paramount hit with lawsuit over ‘Landman’ series: what we know
Last Updated: July 16, 2025
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In a surprising legal twist tied to the world of television and legacy media, Paramount Global is facing a lawsuit from the estate of legendary broadcaster Paul Harvey.
The issue? A 90-second audio clip was allegedly used without consent in the network’s oil-themed drama, Landman.
What might seem like a brief moment in an episode has turned into a full-blown copyright dispute, raising questions about how intellectual property is handled in entertainment, especially when it involves iconic voices from the past.
Let’s break it all down.
The Voice of Paul Harvey Lives On, But Not With Permission?
Paul Harvey, the late and widely respected radio personality known for his “The Rest of the Story” broadcasts, built a legacy around storytelling that millions of Americans came to admire and trust. So, when a portion of one of his 2008 broadcasts titled “Gas Crisis” appeared in the finale of Landman, his estate took serious issue.
The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District Court of New York, alleges that Paramount used a 90-second clip of Harvey’s voice in Landman’s Season 1, Episode 10, “The Crumbs of Hope,” without securing the rights or even informing the estate. The plaintiffs in the case are Paulynne, the company founded by Harvey and his wife, Lynne Cooper Harvey, to oversee his intellectual property.
The suit describes this use as not only unauthorized but also deeply misrepresentative of Harvey’s message.
“Now, the rest of the story,” But Taken Out of Context?
The episode in question opens with Harvey’s famous catchphrase, “Now, the rest of the story.” This choice, the lawsuit argues, was not accidental.
It was meant to immediately clue viewers into the fact that the audio was, in fact, Paul Harvey. The recognizable line made it clear to fans of his work that the show was leaning into his identity, voice, and reputation, but allegedly without his consent.
Even more troubling for the estate is how the content of the audio was used.
The original 2008 broadcast tackled complex issues about gas prices. According to the estate, Harvey explained that “rising gas prices are more than just the result of market forces and the greed of oil companies” and that they are sometimes “deliberately manipulated by governments and certain corporations to advance broader agendas.”
But in Landman, the estate claims those statements were stripped of their original meaning. Instead, they were edited to align with the show’s supposed pro-oil industry narrative, something the estate finds both misleading and disrespectful.
Attempts to Resolve It Quietly Fell Flat
Before the lawsuit, Paulynne’s legal team says they made several efforts to settle things behind the scenes.
A letter was sent to Paramount on March 14, followed by phone calls, but they say the company never responded. According to the suit, “Paulynne’s prior knowledge and consent is willful in nature, remains continuous and ongoing, and violates Paulynne’s copyrights in and to the recording.”
In other words, the estate believes this wasn’t an innocent mistake. They claim Paramount gained financially from using Harvey’s voice and content, while Paulynne lost potential licensing income.
What the Estate Wants from Paramount
Paulynne isn’t just asking for recognition; they want action. The suit calls for:
- The removal of the “Gas Crisis” clip from all episodes, online platforms, or services controlled by Paramount Global.
- A cease and desist order to stop any further use of the clip.
- Financial compensation for the alleged copyright infringement and the benefit Paramount may have gained from it.
And they’re not holding back when it comes to how serious they consider this.
“In the world of audio licensing, 90 seconds is an eternity,” Jaime Wolf, the estate’s attorney and a partner at Pelosi Wolf Spates LLP, said in a statement. “Paramount not only grabbed a long, copyrighted audio clip without our client’s permission, but they also twisted the intent of Mr. Harvey’s words by editing his original broadcast.”
The Bigger Picture: Legacy, Licensing, and Responsibility
This lawsuit is more than just a copyright claim; it’s a statement about preserving the legacy of a respected media figure. Paul Harvey’s voice wasn’t just familiar, it was trusted.
Using that voice in a fictional narrative, especially one that may contradict the original intent, touches on ethical questions about how legacy content is handled.
In the age of streaming, where real-world media clips often find their way into fictional shows, this case might set a precedent. Can networks and studios freely use historical audio under the guise of creative storytelling? Or will they be held accountable for obtaining proper rights and honoring the context of what’s being used?
At the moment, Paramount Global has not publicly responded to the lawsuit or offered any clarification. But as the case unfolds, it will no doubt draw the attention of legal experts, content creators, and fans of Paul Harvey alike.
For now, the estate is standing firm on one point: Paul Harvey’s voice should not be used to promote ideas he may never have endorsed, especially without anyone asking first.
TL;DR
- Paul Harvey’s estate has filed a lawsuit against Paramount Global.
- The suit claims a 90-second clip from Harvey’s 2008 “Gas Crisis” broadcast was used without permission in Landman Season 1, Episode 10.
- The estate alleges the clip was edited and taken out of context to support the show’s pro-oil industry message.
- Harvey’s iconic line, “Now, the rest of the story,” was used to make the audio clearly recognizable.
- Paulynne, the company managing Harvey’s intellectual property, says they reached out to Paramount in March but received no response.
- The lawsuit demands the clip be removed from all platforms and seeks a cease and desist against further use.
- Financial compensation is also being sought for lost licensing income and Paramount’s alleged benefit.
- The estate’s attorney stated, “90 seconds is an eternity” in audio licensing and accused Paramount of twisting Harvey’s words.
- Paramount has not yet commented on the lawsuit.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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Bee DeloresAuthor
Bee DeloresLover of hiking, biking, horror movies, cats and camping. Writer at Wide Open Country, Holler and Nashville Gab.
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