Is this copyright infringement...

[Individualist]

http://www2.tricities.com/tri/news/local/article/radio_station_we_are_the_world_parody_draws_big_time_attention/41912/

[GReedDiamond]

1. I'm no entertainment lawyer...

...but I do not think this is copyright infringement. As the article's title says, it is a song parody, with new, original lyrics being used. If anything, there may be issues regarding publishing rights, licensing fees and royalties due over the use of the music, if the parody version is published and marketed. However, it looks like the parody version is being made available for free mp3 download, so there is no money being made off of it.

There may also be what are called "mechanical licensing" issues regarding the music itself (minus the lyrics), if the parody uses the original music with overdubbed new parody lyrics (as in, for example, when unauthorized sampling is used in a new composition, such as Vanilla Ice's use in "Ice Ice Baby" (or whatever it's called) of the bass line from the Queen/David Bowie tune, "Under Pressure").

I may not be a lawyer, but I am a published songwriter, although that still doesn't mean anything, legalistically speaking.

Any entertainment/intellectual property rights attorneys out there?

[Lyric]

2. Nope. Fair use. It's a parody.