Since the beginning of his recording career, Al has made a point of obtaining permission for his song parodies. He isn't legally required to (American copyright law considers it "fair use", since the audience is meant to tell the difference between the original and the parody), but he does so anyway to maintain friendly relationships with other musicians.

In the case of polka medleys, the original songwriters and publishers must unanimously agree to receive a reduced royalty rate based on what percentage of the medley each song takes up; paying the full royalty rate would cost too much, and Al can't make exceptions so as not to give some artists preferential treatment.

Most artists consider it a point of pride to be parodied by Weird Al (Nirvana notably felt that they had "made it" when Al released "Smells Like Nirvana"), but some have refused permission for one reason or another. What follows is a list of some hurdles Al has faced in parodying other musicians.