'Singer Meatloaf has filed a federal lawsuit claiming that he alone should have the sole rights to the phrase “Bat Out Of Hell” when it comes to music and is seeking more than $50 million worth of damages – even if he didn’t actually write the song that helped launch his career with the huge selling “Bat Out of Hell” 1977 album.

In the suit which was filed in May, Meatloaf (Michael Aday, 58 ) says that although Jim Steinman (the defendant in the suit) wrote the song, he wrongly claims the right to the phrase.

Since its first release, the album “Bat Out of Hell” has sold more than 34 million copies and is still a strong seller in today’s market. It is also considered one of the best albums of all time by many music critics.

In 1993, Meatloaf and Steinman teamed up again for “Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell” and the album was another hit thanks to the strong single “I'd Do Anything for Love (but I Won't Do That)” – which went on to be a #1 hit.

Aday has also had a successful film career with roles in hit films like Fight Club, Leap of Faith, and Wayne’s World. He has an upcoming role in Tenacious D in 'The Pick of Destiny' film which is in post-production. A new “Bat Out of Hell” album is scheduled for release sometime this fall.

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I think that is redundant, if Jim Steinman wrote the song, then he made the phase bat out of hell, it came from Jim. I guess if he gave the rights to the song to Meatloaf to sing it or did he give him full rights to the words? If so does that mean that Jim can never use the phase bat out of hell. I guess the key word is rights. So let the lawyers figure it out. It seems just one more way for someone to make money.

So are we going to be breaking some law or going to have to pay - everytime we say [B.O.O.H.]?

There's a song in that !We could then have a followup album : "I didn't even say Booh".

Can you copyright a title and/or a phrase?
Holy HELL Batman!
The phrase "bat out of hell" has been around for a long, long time now.

According to U.S. Copyright Office, you cannot copyright titles or phrases. Below are two links that suggest the phrase "like a bat out of hell" has been around for quite a while:

The Word Detective
The Phrase Finder

...........
And I’m dying in the middle of a court
Where it ain’t no fun.
Oh sued and shafted by a man with
Severe stage fright
And I think some copyright lawyer
Must be laughin’ his ass
And the last thing I see is my cash
It’s leavin’
I said leaving
Breaking out of my wallet
And flying away
Like a small flying rodent creature headed for heck


Sorry, I could have been more poetic if I weren’t afraid of ending up in court

"According to U.S. Copyright Office, you cannot copyright titles or phrases."

shadeswv is %100 correct. Meatloaf will win this one hands down.

Oh capt... you do write such lovely poetry!!