It’s that time of year again. Brightly decorated Christmas trees, a fresh blanket of snow on the ground, egg nog, brightly wrapped presents…and that earworm known as “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer”.

Elmo Shropshire, the man who sang the now worn out Christmas song may be in court soon this Christmas season. He was sued for breach of contract Monday by a company that claims he interfered in a $1 million-plus deal to sell all kinds of cheap garbage associated with the novelty song. Everything from musical trucks and bobblehead dolls, to snow globes and cookie jars featuring characters from an animated show based on the novelty song.

The Fred Rappoport Co. of California contends it has the rights to use the song for products featuring characters from that program. Rappoport claims it got those specific rights under a 2004 settlement of a lawsuit filed by Shropshire.

This new lawsuit seeks at least $2 million. Talk about getting run over. By corporate Reindeer no less.

Rappoport “can sell any characters he wants from the movie,” Shropshire said. “But I own the copyright from the song. He can’t use the song without my permission.”

The song about Santa running over a drunken grandma with his sleigh was first heard in 1979 and has become a holiday favorite for some.(While others pray to get through a year without it assaulting our senses. It inspired an animated TV program in 2000 that runs every year around the world.

Strange music video of the song for your amusement:

[AOL]