Los Angeles, July 22 (DPA) Singer Jackson Browne has settled a lawsuit with former presidential candidate Senator John McCain and the Republican Party over their use of his song Running on Empty during last year's campaign.

The settlement announced Tuesday included an apology from the GOP, which lost the election, and a pledge not to use any musicians' work without proper permission in future campaigns, a statement that Browne said he hoped would benefit other artists.

Browne sued after McCain and the Republican National Committee used the song in an internet ad mocking Democrat Barack Obama's proposed energy policies. The lawsuit said Browne was concerned that use of his music would cause people to conclude that he was endorsing McCain, even though the 60-year-old singer-songwriter contributed to Obama's campaign. Financial details of the settlement were not announced.

'This settlement is really a great affirmation of what I believed my rights to be, and all writers' rights to be,' Browne said in an announcement. 'One would hope that a presidential candidate would not only know the law but respect it.'

'We apologize that a portion of the Jackson Browne song Running on Empty was used without permission,' the Republican Party said.