Current:Home > StocksDonald Trump's campaign prohibited from using Isaac Hayes song after lawsuit threat -Edge Finance Strategies
Donald Trump's campaign prohibited from using Isaac Hayes song after lawsuit threat
View
Date:2025-04-16 22:10:18
A federal judge in Atlanta ruled Tuesday that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his campaign can no longer use Isaac Hayes' song "Hold On, I'm Comin.'"
The ruling comes nearly a month after Hayes' family threatened to sue the former president over his use of the track, co-written by Hayes and performed by soul duo Sam & Dave, at rallies.
"Today our family was granted an injunction against @realdonaldtrump from playing @IsaacHayes3 music ever again," Hayes' son Isaac Hayes III wrote on X. "We are please(d) with the decision by the court and move to the next phase of this lawsuit."
Hayes III previously shared a copy of a copyright infringement notice on social media, filed by lawyer James Walker and issued to Trump, demanding his campaign pay $3 million in licensing fees. The late singer's family was considering suing for 134 counts of copyright infringement for the "unauthorized use of the song" at campaign rallies over the last two years.
Read more here:Isaac Hayes' family demands Trump stop using his song at rallies, $3M in fees
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
The notice also demanded the Trump campaign remove videos featuring the song and issue a public disclaimer, or else face "further legal action."
Judge Thomas W. Thrash Jr. granted the Hayes estate's request to halt Trump's use of the song, but the judge reportedly denied the estate's motion to remove previously recorded uses of the song from the campaign, according to CNN and The Associated Press.
While speaking to reporters after the hearing, Trump's attorney Ronald Coleman said the former president's legal team was pleased with Thrash's ruling on previous uses of the song. Coleman added that the Trump campaign had already agreed not to use the track anymore.
"The campaign has no interest in annoying or hurting anyone, and if the Hayes family feels that it hurts or annoys them, that's fine. We're not going to force the issue," Coleman said, per CNN and AP.
Following the judge's ruling, Hayes' son told reporters he was "very grateful and happy," according to AP.
"I want this to serve as an opportunity for other artists to come forward that don’t want their music used by Donald Trump or other political entities and continue to fight for music artists’ rights and copyright," his son said, per the outlet.
The Hayes family's motion against the Trump campaign is listed as a preliminary injunction in the case, according to the U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia website. Future hearing dates were not immediately available.
Hayes died on Aug. 10, 2008. He co-wrote "Hold On, I’m Comin,'" released in 1966, with David Porter. The soul-pop hit has been covered by Aretha Franklin, Waylon Jennings, Eric Clapton, B.B. King and Tina Turner.
The number of songs Trump can use at his rallies is steadily decreasing.
Donald Trump v. Beyoncé:Trump's campaign removes 'Freedom' video after reports singer sent cease and desist
Hayes' family joins a long list of people who have demanded the former president stop using artists' music at his rallies, including Sinéad O'Connor's estate, Prince's estate, The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco and the family of Tom Petty.
Contributing: Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY
veryGood! (68991)
Related
- Warm inflation data keep S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq under wraps before Fed meeting next week
- Maryland’s Moore joins former US Sen. Elizabeth Dole to help veterans
- How do breakers train for the Olympics? Strength, mobility – and all about the core
- Utility company’s proposal to rat out hidden marijuana operations to police raises privacy concerns
- How to watch new prequel series 'Dexter: Original Sin': Premiere date, cast, streaming
- 2024 Olympics: Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon Gets Silver Medal Reinstated After Controversial Ruling
- Utility company’s proposal to rat out hidden marijuana operations to police raises privacy concerns
- U.S. women's water polo grinds out win for a spot in semifinals vs. Australia
- In ‘Nickel Boys,’ striving for a new way to see
- 4 hotel employees charged with being party to felony murder in connection with Black man’s death
Ranking
- Appeals court scraps Nasdaq boardroom diversity rules in latest DEI setback
- Weak spots in metal may have led to fatal Osprey crash off Japan, documents obtained by AP reveal
- After dark days on stock markets, see where economy stands now
- Blake Lively Reveals Ryan Reynolds Wrote Iconic It Ends With Us Scene
- The Super Bowl could end in a 'three
- 'Choose joy': Daughter of woman killed by Texas death row inmate finds peace
- Astros' Framber Valdez loses no-hitter with two outs in ninth on Corey Seager homer
- American Cole Hocker pulls Olympic shocker in men’s 1,500, leaving Kerr and Ingebrigtsen behind
Recommendation
A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
Family of 4 from Texas missing after boat capsizes off Alaska coast; search suspended
Recreational weed: Marijuana sales begin in Ohio today. Here's what to expect.
Man who decapitated newlywed wife sentenced to 40 years in Texas prison
Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace
2024 Olympics: Ryan Lochte Reveals Why U.S. Swimmers Can’t Leave the Village During Games
Extreme heat is impacting most Americans’ electricity bills, AP-NORC poll finds
Victory! White Sox finally snap 21-game losing streak, longest in AL history