Reggae singer Eddy Grant has prevailed in his copyright infringement lawsuit against Donald Trump over the unauthorized use of "Electric Avenue" in a 2020 campaign video. District Court Judge John G. Koeltl ruled Trump liable for damages after rejecting his defense arguments.

The dispute began when Trump's campaign posted an animated video on Twitter mocking Joe Biden while featuring Grant's 1982 hit song playing in the background. The video garnered millions of views before removal.

Trump's legal team attempted to claim fair use, arguing that:

• The video was political commentary rather than a campaign advertisement
• The song was "contextually transformed" in the clip
• Grant lacked copyright ownership

Judge Koeltl dismissed these arguments, describing the video as "wholesale copying of music to accompany a political campaign ad."

The court will now determine whether a jury will decide the final damages amount. Grant initially sought $300,000 in damages plus legal fees in his 2020 filing.

This case joins numerous other music-related lawsuits against Trump from artists including the Rolling Stones, Celine Dion, and Jack White. Grant, known for socially conscious music, stated that using his song to amplify "derogatory political rhetoric" was "wicked" and caused "considerable emotional distress."

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