The estate of legendary radio host Paul Harvey has filed a federal lawsuit against Paramount Global, accusing the media giant of copyright infringement for using a 90-second excerpt from Harvey’s iconic program “The Rest of the Story” in the Paramount+ series “Landman” without permission. The complaint, filed in a New York federal court, alleges that Paramount not only used the copyrighted material without authorization but also edited the segment in a way that misrepresented Harvey’s original message according to a reprot from InsideRadio.
According to the lawsuit, the disputed audio comes from a 2008 Harvey monologue titled “Gas Crisis,” which was featured at the start of the tenth episode of “Landman,” a drama series set in the West Texas oil fields, created by “Yellowstone” co-creator Taylor Sheridan. The estate claims that the 90-second clip was selectively edited to suggest Harvey supported the oil industry, when the full monologue actually criticized government fossil fuel policies and advocated for alternative energy sources. This deceptive editing, the estate argues, distorts Harvey’s legacy and misleads viewers about his views.
“In the world of audio licensing, 90 seconds is an eternity,” said Jaime Wolf, lead attorney for the Harvey estate and a partner at Pelosi Wolf Spates and Paulynne, in a news release. “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. Mr. Harvey might not have put it this way, but that takes a lot of chutzpah.”
Paul Harvey, who passed away in 2009 at the age of 90, was a titan of American broadcasting, known for his distinctive storytelling and warm, authoritative voice. His syndicated program, “The Rest of the Story,” aired from 1976 to 2008, captivating millions with its surprising historical anecdotes and signature sign-off, “And now you know… the rest of the story.” The show’s enduring popularity has made Harvey’s work a cherished piece of American media history, closely guarded by his estate.
The lawsuit details how the estate’s legal team attempted to resolve the issue amicably, sending a letter to Paramount in March 2025 offering a settlement. Despite multiple follow-ups, Paramount allegedly failed to respond, prompting the estate to escalate the matter to court. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for copyright infringement and aims to hold Paramount accountable for what the estate calls a “blatant misuse” of Harvey’s intellectual property.
This is not the first time the Harvey estate has had to defend the late broadcaster’s legacy. In recent years, unauthorized attempts to exploit Harvey’s voice have surfaced, including deep-fake audio created by supporters of political campaigns for Ron DeSantis in 2022 and Donald Trump in 2024, falsely depicting Harvey endorsing the candidates. In both cases, cease-and-desist letters from the estate’s legal team led to the removal of the fakes. “When our firm sent Paramount a letter offering a settlement, they failed to respond despite numerous attempts to reach them,” Wolf said. “They left no choice but to sue.”
“Landman,” which premiered on Paramount+ in 2024, has drawn attention for its gritty portrayal of the oil industry, but the inclusion of Harvey’s audio has now sparked controversy. Paramount Global has not yet issued a public response to the lawsuit, and representatives for the company declined to comment when contacted by this outlet.
The Harvey estate emphasized that the lawsuit is about more than just financial compensation—it’s about protecting the integrity of a broadcaster whose voice resonated with generations. “Paul Harvey spent decades building trust with his audience,” Wolf said. “His words were carefully chosen, and his stories were crafted with purpose. To see his work misused in this way is an affront to his memory.”
As the legal battle unfolds, the case could set a precedent for how media companies handle copyrighted audio in the streaming era, particularly when it comes to iconic figures like Harvey. For now, the estate is prepared to fight to ensure that “the rest of the story” remains true to Harvey’s vision.
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