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Family of Isaac Hayes sues Trump for $3 million over “unauthorized” use of song


Family of Isaac Hayes sues Trump for  million over “unauthorized” use of song

A federal court has granted an emergency hearing next month on a temporary restraining order against Donald Trump, his campaign team and other organizations over allegations of copyright infringement on a song by the late musician Isaac Hayes, his son reported.

The legal action follows a lawsuit and an earlier warning letter to Trump and his campaign from Hayes’ family and Isaac Hayes Enterprises this month, seeking $3 million in damages for 134 “brazen” copyright violations in the use of the famous song “Hold on, I’m Coming” at rallies. The song was recorded by soul duo Sam & Dave and written by Hayes and David Porter.

The federal court for the Northern District of Georgia in Atlanta has now set an initial hearing on the lawsuit for September 3, the late singer’s son, Isaac Hayes III, said on Friday.

He also tweeted on Sunday: “We will see Donald Trump,” the Republican Party, the National Rifle Association, and “several others misappropriate Isaac Hayes’ copyright over 134 times in court after being warned NUMEROUS times to stop.”

Following the warning letter, Hayes had previously written on Instagram that Trump represented “the worst in terms of integrity,” including his “disrespect” for women and his “racist rhetoric.”

He added at the time: “We will now deal with this quickly.”

Attorney James Walker Jr., who represents the family, remarked on X Sunday: “Imagine using Trump’s trademark without permission or payment,” adding: “See you in court!”

The Trump team could not immediately be reached for comment.

Trump has long used the music of musicians many of whom vehemently oppose his politics, including Tom Petty, Neil Young, Adele, Rihanna, the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith and Elton John – as well as the estate of Prince in 2019.

When the Foo Fighters were recently asked on X whether the band had authorized the use of their song “My Hero” at Trump’s rally in Arizona on Friday, they simply replied, “No.”

A spokesman for the band told CBS News on Saturday: “The Foo Fighters were not asked for permission, and if they had been, they would not have given it.”

All royalties generated from the Trump campaign’s use of the song would be donated to Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz, the spokesman noted.

Mike Mills, bassist for the now-defunct rock band REM, objected to Trump’s use of “Everybody Hurts” and “Losing My Religion” at his rallies in 2020.

Mills called Trump a “fraudster” and “conman” and said the band “did not condone his use of our music.”

It is not clear whether Trump heeded the complaints or whether he settled any lawsuits over the use of the songs.

He and his campaign team were ridiculed on Saturday after spectators at Trump’s rally in Bozeman, Montana, were shown a replay of the video of the theme song from the movie “Titanic” – “My Heart Will Go On” sung by Celine Dion.

Dion’s management team and her record label Sony immediately fired off an irritated statement warning: “This use is in no way authorized and Céline Dion does not endorse this or any similar use.”

The statement said mischievously: “And really, THIS song?”

Trump’s approach to songs stands in stark contrast to Harris and Walz.

Harris had asked for and received permission to use Beyonce’s song “Freedom” for her campaign. (Last week, the song was eventually removed from a Trump campaign video after complaints from Beyonce’s music publisher.)

Likewise, Walz requested and received permission last week to play Neil Young’s song “Rockin’ in the Free World” when he accepted his party’s nomination for vice president.

Young sued Trump in 2020 for unauthorized use of the same song and another he wrote, but the outcome was pending.

The lawsuit states that Young “cannot in good conscience allow his music to be used as the ‘theme song’ for a divisive, un-American campaign of ignorance and hate.”

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