Late poet Edith Newlin wrote lyrics of the song “Warm kitty” in 1937. Her daughters, Margaret Perry and Ellen Chase, thought CBS should pay royalty, reports aceshowbiz.com. They filed a lawsuit on Monday in a federal court in Manhattan, saying the “The ‘Soft kitty’ lyrics have played a prominent role in the development and portrayal of one of the central characters in the programme.”
Newlin’s lyrics say: “Warm kitty/ soft kitty/ little ball of fur/ sleepy kitty/ happy kitty/ purr purr purr.” The one used on the show only changes the order of the lyrics and the rest are the same. It was first sung in a 2008 episode by both Sheldon and Penny before it was repeated in seven more episodes.
“The Big Bang Theory” made the song so popular that CBS made a merchandise out of it, including coffee mugs, hoodies, T-shirts, toys and key chains.
The lawsuit said: “The ‘Soft kitty’ lyrics are among the best known and most popular aspects of ‘The Big Bang Theory’. They have become a signature and emblematic feature of the show and a central part of the show’s promotion.” (IANS)