A federal judge in Atlanta has ruled that Donald Trump’s presidential campaign must cease using the classic soul song “Hold On, I’m Coming”
Additionally, the family of co-writer Isaac Hayes pursues a copyright infringement lawsuit against the former president.
The temporary injunction, issued by U.S. District Judge Thomas Thrash, prohibits the Trump campaign from playing the song at any future events until the legal matter is resolved.
However, the judge denied a request to force the campaign to remove existing videos containing the song.
Hayes, who died in 2008, co-wrote “Hold On, I’m Coming” in 1966 with David Porter. The song became a hit for the soul duo Sam & Dave.
The Hayes estate filed a lawsuit last month alleging that Trump and his allies had repeatedly used the song without permission at rallies, including the 2024 Republican National Convention.
They are seeking $3 million in damages for the unauthorized use between 2022-2024.
Isaac Hayes III, the songwriter’s son, welcomed the ruling, stating that his father would not have supported Trump’s character. He said outside the courthouse
We have to take a stand that we want to separate ourselves from someone with Donald Trump’s character,
Isaac Hayes III
Trump’s attorney, Ronald Coleman, acknowledged that the campaign had already agreed to stop using “Hold On, I’m Coming” going forward.
He was satisfied the court acknowledged First Amendment issues and did not require removing existing videos.
The lawsuit remains ongoing, with the possibility of a settlement before the trial begins. The Hayes estate argues that Trump’s use of the song constitutes false endorsement and has caused significant economic damages.
Trump’s team contends that the estate does not hold the necessary licensing rights and had permission to use the song.
The ruling comes amid a growing number of artists objecting to the use of their music at Republican events.
In recent weeks, acts like ABBA, Foo Fighters, Celine Dion, and Johnny Marr have voiced concerns.
However, musicians often face challenges in preventing politicians from utilizing their songs due to the complexities of copyright law and the lengthy legal process involved in resolving such disputes.
