Family of Isaac Hayes threaten Donald Trump with lawsuit over use of song in rallies
Source: The Guardian
Mon 12 Aug 2024 04.28 EDT
Last modified on Mon 12 Aug 2024 04.29 EDT
The family of late soul and funk singer Isaac Hayes has ordered Donald Trump to stop using the Hayes-penned song Hold On, I’m Comin’ at campaign rallies.
A letter sent to Trump and his campaign team, shared by Hayes’s son Isaac Hayes III, threatens Trump with legal action if he continues to use the 1966 Sam & Dave song, written by Hayes and David Porter. It alleges copyright infringement, and also demands $3m in licensing fees incurred from the use of the song between 2022 and 2024.
The letter, from lawyer James Walker, alleges that the Trump campaign “wilfully and brazenly engaged in copyright infringement”, and continued using the song “despite being asked repeatedly not to engage in such illegal use by our client”. Walker alleges that the song has been used so frequently that the $3m figure is “heavily discounted”. The letter also states that if a resolution is not made and a lawsuit is then issued, the Hayes family will demand damages of $150,000 per use of the song.
On Saturday, Hayes III wrote that Trump – who has previously been filmed dancing to Hold On, I’m Comin’ – used the song in a Montana rally despite being asked not to. “We will now deal with this very swiftly … Donald Trump represents the worst in integrity and class with his disrespect and sexual abuse of women and racist rhetoric.”
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/music/article/2024/aug/12/family-of-isaac-hayes-threaten-donald-trump-with-lawsuit-over-use-of-song-in-rallies
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Just saying
