A federal judge in Atlanta has ruled that Donald Trump and his campaign must cease using the song 'Hold On, I'm Coming' while a lawsuit filed by the estate of Isaac Hayes Jr. is ongoing. The lawsuit alleges copyright infringement and seeks damages from Trump, his campaign, and allies.
'Hold On, I'm Coming' was co-written by Isaac Hayes Jr. and David Porter and was a hit for soul duo Sam and Dave in 1966. The judge's ruling mandates that Trump must discontinue the song's use, but denies the request to remove existing videos featuring the song.
Trump's attorney stated that the campaign has agreed not to use the song in the future, emphasizing a lack of intent to cause harm. The ruling also determined that ordering the removal of current videos would exceed the court's authority at this stage of the litigation.
Isaac Hayes III, son of Isaac Hayes Jr., expressed gratitude for the decision and highlighted the importance of protecting artists' rights and copyrights. Several artists, including Celine Dion, Bruce Springsteen, and Rihanna, have objected to Trump using their songs at events.
The lawsuit contends that Trump and his campaign began using 'Hold On, I'm Coming' without permission in 2020 and have used it over 100 times since. The plaintiffs argue that this unauthorized use misleads the public and damages the Hayes estate economically.
Trump's legal team asserts that they obtained a license for the song in 2022 and that its use in campaign videos falls under fair use principles. A statement from a Trump campaign deputy manager confirms that the song will no longer be played at events due to the pending litigation.
While the litigation continues, the court's preliminary ruling prohibits Trump from using 'Hold On, I'm Coming' until the case is resolved. The lawsuit underscores the importance of protecting intellectual property rights in the music industry.
