Judge Blocks Trump Campaign from Using Iconic Isaac Hayes Song: A Victory for Artists’ Rights

03 Sep Judge Blocks Trump Campaign from Using Iconic Isaac Hayes Song: A Victory for Artists’ Rights

A federal judge has issued a ruling that former President Donald Trump and his campaign must cease using the iconic song “Hold On, I’m Coming” at campaign events. This decision follows an emergency injunction filed by the estate of the late R&B legend Isaac Hayes, who co-wrote the song. The estate argued that the Trump campaign did not have the proper approval to use the track.

The ruling was delivered by Judge Thomas Thrash Jr. in an Atlanta, Georgia courtroom. He stated clearly, “I do order Trump and his campaign to not use the song without proper license.”

However, the judge stopped short of requiring the campaign to remove any previous uses of the song from their recordings, a point that Trump’s legal team appreciated. Ronald Coleman, an attorney representing Trump, expressed that “the campaign has no interest in annoying or hurting anyone. And if the Hayes family feels it hurts or annoys them, that’s fine, we’re not going to force the issue.”

Isaac Hayes, who passed away in 2008 at the age of 65, co-wrote the 1966 hit along with David Porter. The song was performed by the legendary duo Sam & Dave. This case marks the first time a legal action has reached the courts regarding Trump’s use of unlicensed music at his events, though it’s not the first time his campaign has faced such complaints. Other high-profile artists like Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen, Celine Dion, and the estates of Prince and Dave Grohl have also expressed their disapproval.

Isaac Hayes III, representing his father’s estate, voiced his satisfaction with the ruling, saying, “We are very grateful and happy for the decision by Judge Thrash. 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.”

James L. Walker, Jr., attorney for Isaac Hayes III, also weighed in on the ruling, stating, “This decision is a significant victory not just for the Hayes family but for all artists who want to protect their work. The message is clear: no one, not even a former president, is above the law when it comes to respecting intellectual property rights.”

The Trump campaign, through its legal representation, has claimed that the Hayes estate does not hold the necessary licensing rights for the song. However, a recent social media post by Hayes III, dated June 5, 2024, suggests otherwise. He shared a letter from BMI, the music rights organization, stating that “Donald Trump for President has not had a valid license for nearly 100 days,” directly contradicting the campaign’s previous claims of having proper licensing.

This ruling not only protects the rights of Isaac Hayes’ music but also serves as a reminder to all political campaigns about the importance of respecting artists’ intellectual property.