Paul Thomas Anderson and composer Jonny Greenwood have formally requested the removal of a segment from the soundtrack of 'Phantom Thread' that was included in the documentary 'Melania' without proper authorization. According to a statement from Greenwood's team reported by Variety, even though Greenwood does not hold the copyright to the score, the use of the music was contractually obligated to require prior approval, which has not been adhered to in this instance. The disclosure of this issue comes in light of the documentary's recent release and initial financial performance.

The documentary, directed by Brett Ratner, was acquired by Amazon MGM along with a series for around $40 million, and the studio has invested approximately $35 million in marketing efforts for its theatrical and streaming release. Despite the significant investment, 'Melania' has only managed to pull in $13.5 million in the U.S. after two weekends in theaters, raising eyebrows given the costly marketing and production efforts typically seen in documentary filmmaking. The financial figures stand out as atypical for the genre, which usually operates on a much smaller budget and public attention.

The situation raises questions about the music licensing practices in the documentary film industry, as unauthorized use of music could lead to legal repercussions not only for the filmmakers but also for distributors. The involvement of high-profile figures like Anderson and Greenwood underscores the importance of respecting intellectual property rights in the creative industry, potentially setting a precedent for future documentary projects and their use of music.