On February 10, 2026, Paul Thomas Anderson and Jonny Greenwood formally requested the removal of the Phantom Thread score from a new documentary focused on Melania Trump, after discovering that the music had been used without their consultation. The film score by Greenwood, known for its critical acclaim, was licensed without proper involvement of the composer and director, sparking significant concerns about rights and artistic control.
Details of the Rights Dispute Over Music Usage
The musical piece in question is part of Greenwood’s Oscar-nominated composition for Phantom Thread, a collaboration that has drawn both critical and audience praise. Despite Universal Pictures owning the copyright to the soundtrack, Greenwood’s agreement includes a clause mandating studio consultation before any third-party use of his music can occur. This contractual requirement is intended to preserve the integrity of the score and prevent it from being repurposed in contexts that the composer does not endorse.
The documentary, directed by Brett Ratner and centered on the first lady of the United States, Melania Trump, unintentionally entered a copyright controversy due to this oversight. Anderson and Greenwood expressed their dissatisfaction through a statement released to Variety, emphasizing the breach of agreement by the studio.
“While Jonny Greenwood does not own the copyright in the score, Universal failed to consult Jonny on this third-party use which is a breach of his composer agreement. As a result Jonny and Paul Thomas Anderson have asked for it to be removed from the documentary.”
– Paul Thomas Anderson and Jonny Greenwood
Impact and Next Steps in the Licensing Conflict
The inclusion of Phantom Thread’s score in a political documentary unrelated to the film’s original themes has caused tension between the composer-director duo and the studio. Both Anderson and Greenwood have not issued any further comments following their initial request, and Universal has yet to respond publicly. The documentary, which was released on January 30 and has grossed $9.5 million against a $40 million budget, now faces an unresolved rights issue that may affect its soundtrack and distribution moving forward. This dispute highlights the ongoing challenges in managing music licensing rights in multimedia productions, especially when prominent works are repurposed without artist approval.
