In a shocking move, acclaimed director Paul Thomas Anderson and composer Jonny Greenwood have demanded that the controversial Melania Trump documentary Melania remove the entire score from their Oscar-nominated film Phantom Thread. What this really means is a major embarrassment for the producers of Melania and a potential legal battle over the unauthorized use of copyrighted material.
A Brazen Attempt to Elevate a Flop
According to reports from The Hollywood Reporter, Anderson and Greenwood were not consulted and did not give permission for their acclaimed score to be used in the Melania Trump biopic, which has been plagued by poor reviews and dismal box office performance. The much-maligned film is clearly trying to piggyback off the prestige of Phantom Thread in a desperate attempt to generate interest, but the filmmakers behind the Oscar-nominated drama are having none of it.
A Troubling Trend of Unauthorized Use
This is just the latest in a string of incidents where the Trump family and their allies have been accused of brazenly using copyrighted material without permission. Luciano Pavarotti's widow and the estates of artists like George Harrison have all previously called out the Trumps for using their music and intellectual property without consent.
The bigger picture here is that this pattern of behavior highlights a troubling disregard for the rights of artists and creators. While the Trumps may feel entitled to exploit any cultural property they wish, the law clearly does not agree. Anderson and Greenwood are right to take a strong stand - their work should not be used to lend credibility to a project they want no part of.