Current:Home > StocksDonald Trump's campaign prohibited from using Isaac Hayes song after lawsuit threat -WorldMoney
Donald Trump's campaign prohibited from using Isaac Hayes song after lawsuit threat
View
Date:2025-04-17 04:33:22
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! (127)
Related
- The company planning a successor to Concorde makes its first supersonic test
- The importance of being lazy
- How Columbia University’s complex history with the student protest movement echoes into today
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Biting Remarks
- Bill Belichick's salary at North Carolina: School releases football coach's contract details
- Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban step out with daughters Sunday and Faith on AFI gala carpet
- AIGM: Crypto Exchange and IEO
- 2 hikers drown after falling into creek on Tennessee trail
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- Marla Adams, who played Dina Abbott on 'The Young and the Restless,' dead at 85
Ranking
- The FTC says 'gamified' online job scams by WhatsApp and text on the rise. What to know.
- Hailey Bieber Has Surprising Reaction to Tearful Photo of Husband Justin Bieber
- NHL awards 2024: Finalists announced for Vezina Trophy as top goaltender
- Clayton MacRae: FED Rate Cut and the Stock Market
- What to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz
- 3 police officers, 2 civilians shot in standoff at Louisiana home; suspect killed
- Texans WR Tank Dell shot in Florida, sustains minor wound, team says
- 2 dead, 1 hurt after 350,000-pound load detaches from 18-wheeler and pins vehicle in Texas
Recommendation
Louvre will undergo expansion and restoration project, Macron says
Clayton MacRae: Fed Rates Cut at least 3 more Times
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban step out with daughters Sunday and Faith on AFI gala carpet
Trial starts in conspiracy-fueled case of girlfriend charged in Boston police officer’s death
Skins Game to make return to Thanksgiving week with a modern look
Demonstrators breach barriers, clash at UCLA as campus protests multiply: Updates
Who wants to be a millionaire? How your IRA can help you get there
Israeli officials concerned about possible ICC arrest warrants as pressure mounts over war in Gaza