Yuko Ono, the widow of the late legendary singer John Lennon and her sons Sean and Julian have slapped a legal action in Manhattan against producers of a documentary for using the song ‘Imagine’ in it. Yuko Ono remarked that the film "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" gave an impression that she permitted the use of the famous song Imagine sung and penned by her husband, leading to accusations that she was ‘selling out’.

 

Premise Media, which has made "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" challenging Darwinian theories of evolution, stated it was fair use. This documentary is pegged at number 10 in this week's North American box office chart, taking $3m (£1.5m) in its first weekend. The legal action says that the way Imagine is listed in the credits gives a feeling as if Ono sanctioned its use. The complaints further stated that the producers of the documentary did not ask for consent either because they knew they would not get it or did not want to pay for the rights.

 

Premise Media, on the other hand, said that it had employed only ‘a very small portion of the song.’ Adding, it said that news commentators and film documentarians normally use material in the same manner. The legal action will now prevent Premise Media, C&S Production LP and Rocky Mountain Pictures from distributing, selling and promoting the film. Ono, Sean and Julian Lennon and EMI Blackwood Music Inc have also demanded financial damages.