Current:Home > StocksDonald Trump's campaign prohibited from using Isaac Hayes song after lawsuit threat -VitalWealth Strategies
Donald Trump's campaign prohibited from using Isaac Hayes song after lawsuit threat
View
Date:2025-04-18 12:52:46
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! (52638)
Related
- Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
- Kylie Jenner and Jordyn Woods Film Their First Video Together in 4 Years Following Reunion
- For Deion Sanders and Shedeur Sanders, Colorado's defeat of Nebraska was 'personal'
- Police announce another confirmed sighting of escaped murderer on the run in Pennsylvania
- Meet first time Grammy nominee Charley Crockett
- A boat capsizing in north-central Nigeria killed at least 24 people. Dozens of others are missing
- Escaped prisoner may have used bedsheets to strap himself to a truck, UK prosecutor says
- Watch the precious, emotional moment this mama chimp and her baby are finally reunited
- Tree trimmer dead after getting caught in wood chipper at Florida town hall
- Olympic gold-medal figure skater Sarah Hughes decides against run for NY congressional seat
Ranking
- California DMV apologizes for license plate that some say mocks Oct. 7 attack on Israel
- Which NFL teams most need to get off to fast starts in 2023 season?
- Jessa Duggar is pregnant with her fifth child: ‘Our rainbow baby is on the way’
- Russian strikes on Ukraine kill 2 foreign aid workers, target Kyiv
- Don't let hackers fool you with a 'scam
- Sweden brings more books and handwriting practice back to its tech-heavy schools
- Cincinnati Bengals Quarterback Joe Burrow's Love Story With Olivia Holzmacher Is a True Touchdown
- Spain's soccer chief Luis Rubiales resigns two weeks after insisting he wouldn't step down
Recommendation
Man can't find second winning lottery ticket, sues over $394 million jackpot, lawsuit says
Walter Isaacson on Elon Musk: It's almost like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Visit from ex-NFL star Calvin Johnson helps 2 children and their families live with cancer
Sri Lanka’s president will appoint a committee to probe allegations of complicity in 2019 bombings
Trump invites nearly all federal workers to quit now, get paid through September
Joe Jonas Addresses His Crazy Week and Makes a Plea to Fans Amid Sophie Turner Divorce
Air China jet evacuated after engine fire sends smoke into cabin in Singapore, and 9 people injured
Niger junta accuses France of amassing forces for a military intervention after the coup in July