Weird Al Yankovic doesn't need permission (under US copyright law) to make a parody of someone's song. “Weird Al” Yankovic built his career by transforming popular songs into comedic parodies, beginning with early recordings in the late 1970s. Under U.S. copyright law, qualifying parodies can be protected as fair use, meaning permission from the original artist is not necessarily required. Despite this legal protection, Yankovic has long followed a personal policy of asking artists for permission before releasing parodies. This approach has helped him maintain good relationships within the music industry, even though some artists have occasionally declined his requests.