Current:Home > ScamsDonald Trump's campaign prohibited from using Isaac Hayes song after lawsuit threat -MoneyStream
Donald Trump's campaign prohibited from using Isaac Hayes song after lawsuit threat
View
Date:2025-04-11 18:39:52
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! (969)
Related
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- Louvre will undergo expansion and restoration project, Macron says
- The Grammy nominee you need to hear: Esperanza Spalding
- Stamford Road collision sends motorcyclist flying; driver arrested
- A Mississippi company is sentenced for mislabeling cheap seafood as premium local fish
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- Alex Murdaugh’s murder appeal cites biased clerk and prejudicial evidence
- Military service academies see drop in reported sexual assaults after alarming surge
- As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
Ranking
- Intel's stock did something it hasn't done since 2022
- B.A. Parker is learning the banjo
- Average rate on 30
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
- Meet first time Grammy nominee Charley Crockett
- Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
- NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
Recommendation
Why members of two of EPA's influential science advisory committees were let go
Jamie Foxx reps say actor was hit in face by a glass at birthday dinner, needed stitches
Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
Could your smelly farts help science?
Trump invites nearly all federal workers to quit now, get paid through September
Could Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft reunite? Maybe in Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class
Moving abroad can be expensive: These 5 countries will 'pay' you to move there