Federal Court Grants Emergency Hearing in Isaac Hayes Estate vs Trump Copyright Battle

Federal Court Grants Emergency Hearing in Isaac Hayes Estate vs Trump Copyright Battle

By Marcus Stevenson

December 2, 2024 at 07:15 AM

The Isaac Hayes Estate secured an emergency federal court hearing against Donald Trump over unauthorized use of Hayes' iconic song "Hold On, I'm Coming" at campaign events.

The Northern District of Georgia Federal Court in Atlanta scheduled the hearing for September 3, following the estate's lawsuit against Trump and several co-defendants including the NRA, Turning Point USA, and the RNC.

Isaac Hayes wearing glasses and sunglasses

Isaac Hayes wearing glasses and sunglasses

The legal action stems from approximately 134 unauthorized uses of the song at Trump rallies. The estate previously demanded a $3 million licensing fee by August 16, which wasn't paid, leading to the current lawsuit.

Isaac Hayes III, the late musician's son, explained that while Trump's campaign may have initially been protected by ASCAP or BMI licenses, the estate opted out of these agreements when Trump began using the song. Each unauthorized play could result in a $150,000 fine.

In a related development, the Trump campaign faces additional criticism from the Foo Fighters for using their song "My Hero" without permission at a recent rally. The band's representatives confirmed they would not have granted permission and are taking "appropriate actions," with plans to donate any received royalties to Kamala Harris' campaign.

Classical columns with historic building backdrop

Classical columns with historic building backdrop

The case highlights ongoing tensions between political campaigns and music rights holders, with artists increasingly taking legal action to protect their intellectual property from unauthorized political use.

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