Alexander Yoffe, a lawyer for Bill Murray’s golf apparel company, William Murray Golf, has responded to a humorous request from Peter Paterno, a lawyer for The Doobie Brothers, to stop using, without permission, “Listen to the Music” in his commercials.
Yoffe of Yoffe & Cooper writes, “First, I would like to compliment you on finding levity in the law at a time when the world and this country certainly could use a laugh. Your client’s demand was able to cut through the noise of the news cycle and remind us how much we all miss live music these days…
“We would also like to confirm that both our firm, and the good folks at William Murray Golf, are indeed fans of The Doobie Brothers’ music, which is why we appreciate your firm’s choice of ‘Takin’ It to the Streets,’ rather than to the courts, which are already overburdened ‘Minute by Minute’ with real problems.”
Yoffe then pointed out that Murray using the song was not a bad things for the Doobies, before adding, “In the immortal words of Mr. Murray — the more relaxed you are, the better you are at everything… so let’s pour one up and unwind with a listen of the recently-released [Doobies] Quadio box set and plan to cross paths at a Doobie Brothers’ 50th anniversary show in 2021 when some level of normalcy resumes…
“As your client so aptly stated in this classic song in question, ‘What the people need is a way to make them smile’ — which both Bill and the Doobies have been doing for decades, as world-class entertainers.”
Yoffe also promised to send each of the Doobies William Murray Golf shirts to “hopefully win each of you over as new fans of the brand… At least that’s ‘what this fool believes.’”
