Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2002/04/22/yahoo_sued_by_yodelling_cowboy/

Yahoo! sued! by! yodelling! cowboy!

Hot diggidy dog

By Tim Richardson

Posted in Legal, 22nd April 2002 08:24 GMT

The man behind Yahoo!'s distinctive yodel used in its ads is to sue the Internet business.

According to reports, Wylie Gustafson wants $5 million from Yahoo! alleging that the Internet giant didn't have the right to continue using his yodel.

He claims he was paid one-off fee of $590 for his performance but believed it would be used for one ad only.

Now he wants the royalties for all the times his yodel has been reproduced.

Mr Gustafson, described by Country Music Magazine as "one of the most consistently fine cowboy singers of his generation", told a US newspaper that he has been trying to seek an agreement with Yahoo! but has so far failed to reach any amicable conclusion.

Hence Mr Gustafson's decision to take the matter to court.

Yahoo! has declined to comment on the action, according to reports.

To find out more about this multi-talented man and purchase merchandise such as CDs, baseball caps and fridge magnets (memo to Reg merchandise - why don't we sell fridge magnets?) check out his Web site here.

You'll also note that Mr Gustafson is actaully rather chuffed with his position as the "Voice of 'Yahoo!'".

An entry at the bottom of his homepage reads: "Do you Yahoo? Wylie does... that's his yodel at the end of every Yahoo! radio and tv ad. ®