The household of Isaac Hayes is threatening to sue Donald Trump‘s marketing campaign over what they are saying is the unauthorized use of the music “Maintain On, I’m Coming” at rallies.
The household posted a authorized letter from an lawyer to the marketing campaign, demanding that it cease utilizing the work, which Hayes co-wrote with David Porter and was initially recorded by Sam & Dave in 1966.
The household’s lawyer, James Walker, claims that the Trump marketing campaign and the Republican Nationwide Committee “have willfully and overtly engaged in copyright infringement” through the use of the music at rallies “over 100 instances.” They’re demanding fee of at the very least $3 million, plus a elimination of all movies that includes the music and a press release that Hayes’ household and property by no means licensed its use. Walker wrote that the Trump marketing campaign additionally “haven’t obtained a license or different authorization” to make use of the music.
Porter additionally has stated that he didn’t authorize the usage of the music, in line with The Guardian. Hayes died in 2008.
The authorized demand units a deadline of Aug. 16, which is Friday.
The music was most just lately performed at a Trump rally in Montana on Friday night. The marketing campaign additionally acquired pushback from Celine Dion’s administration workforce and her label, Sony Music Leisure Canada, over the usage of “My Coronary heart Will Go On” on the similar occasion. Using that music, popularized within the film Titanic, was not licensed, Dion’s workforce stated.
The reps wrote, “By no means is that this use licensed and Celine Dion doesn’t endorse this or every other comparable use…And actually, that music?”
A Trump marketing campaign spokesperson has not returned a request for touch upon the Hayes or the Dion statements.
Hayes’ son, Isaac Hayes III, stated in a publish on X, stated that the household has demanded that the marketing campaign cease enjoying the music for the previous two years “and so they simply maintain doing it.”
There’s a lengthy historical past of campaigns — primarily Republican — going through artists’ ire over the usage of their music at rallies. At sure instances, the campaigns obtained blanket licenses from rights teams like ASCAP, both immediately or by way of the venue the place a rally or occasion takes place. However an artist can exclude sure works from the blanket license. Artists additionally might object to the usage of a piece on different grounds, together with that it violates proper of publicity and trademark legal guidelines.
