McLean Sued Over 'American Pie' Claims

11/30/1999 4:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Craig Rosen

(11/30/99, 4 p.m. ET) - Don McLean, whose claim to fame is the 1971 No. 1 hit "American Pie," is being sued by an Austin, Texas-based graphic designer who claims the singer has violated her freedom of speech with attempts to force her to cease operating her company's website, www.americanpie.com, and change the name of her company.

Desirae Pierce, founder of American Pie Design, filed suit against McLean in federal court. Her action follows a July accusation by McLean and his lawyers of trademark infringement, followed by a demand that the company's name be changed. Pierce contends that the phrase "American Pie" is part of the national vernacular in this country, and that McLean's trademark covers only musical performances.

McLean's representatives and Pierce's attorneys did not return phone calls by presstime.

In other McLean news, Garth Brooks will once again perform with his musical hero, McLean, on the hour-long PBS special Don McLean: A Starry, Starry Night, which is scheduled to air in spring of 2000. The two first paired up at Brook's Central Park concert in 1997, when they dueted on "American Pie."

To read a Garth Brooks feature, click here.

-- Barry Jeckell, New York and Jennifer Gerlock, Nashville

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