McCain, this song’s not for you

Jackson Browne sued Sen. John McCain on Thursday for unauthorized use of one of his songs in a television commercial.

Browne, one of rock music’s most famous activists for liberal causes, is “incensed” that the presumptive Republican nominee for president has been using Browne’s signature 1977 song “Running on Empty,” said Lawrence Y. Iser, the singer-songwriter’s attorney.

Browne filed a copy- right infringement lawsuit against McCain and the Republican National Committee in U.S. District Court in L.A., seeking damages and a permanent injunction prohibiting the use of the forlorn arena anthem or any other Browne composition.

McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said the ad was not a McCain campaign product but was put together by the Ohio Republican Party. Browne’s attorney said that he is “informed and believes” that McCain approved the ad.

-- Geoff Boucher