Peanuts Owner Sues GameMill Over Guaraldi-Style Music

Lee Mendelson Film Productions filed a copyright lawsuit against publisher GameMill on May 20, 2026, in federal court, alleging the Nintendo Switch game Snoopy & the Great Mystery Club contains music substantially similar to Vince Guaraldi’s Peanuts compositions and that those compositions were used without a license.

The complaint says GameMill licensed the Peanuts characters for the 2025 puzzle-adventure title but did not obtain rights to the Guaraldi compositions from Lee Mendelson Film Productions. The plaintiff identifies multiple tracks in the game’s soundtrack that it says mirror Guaraldi pieces associated with the Peanuts specials.

The filing includes a musicological analysis by Dr. Ethan Lustig. The report, attached to the complaint, points to what it describes as “specific rhythmic (and metric) instantiation,” “identical note events (same pitch and rhythm)” and other parallels between Guaraldi works such as “Linus and Lucy” and “Skating” and in-game cues titled “Success,” “Town Theme” and “Schoolhouse Theme.” The complaint asserts GameMill “created music substantially similar to (and thus infringing upon) the Guaraldi Compositions without authorization.”

Lee Mendelson Film Productions is seeking damages to be determined at trial and estimates recoverable amounts currently exceed $300,000. The complaint requests a jury trial. The filing was submitted the same day the company filed related suits against the Federal Government, Heritage Auctions and accessory maker Buckle-Down over alleged uses of Peanuts-related music.

Snoopy & the Great Mystery Club was released on the Nintendo Switch eShop in 2025. The complaint notes GameMill had permission to use Peanuts characters but alleges the publisher did not secure rights to the Guaraldi compositions owned or controlled by the plaintiff.

The case will proceed in federal court, where parties may present evidence and legal arguments about similarity, licensing history and any defenses GameMill may assert.