by Jeroslyn JoVonn
August 13, 2024
According to the lawsuit, there are 134 examples of copyright infringement.
Donald Trump is facing yet another copyright infringement lawsuit over his unauthorized use of music at his campaign rallies.
The 2024 presidential hopeful was recently slapped with a notice of copyright infringement from the Issac Hayes estate for Trump’s use of the 1966 song, “Hold On, I’m Coming,” which Hayes co-wrote with David Porter. The suit, filed on Monday, Aug. 11, cites 134 counts of copyright infringement over the music being played at campaign rallies from 2022 to 2024, Billboard reports.
“We demand the cessation of use, removal of all related videos, a public disclaimer, and payment of $3 million in licensing fees by August 16, 2024. Failure to comply will result in further legal action,” a statement shared by Hayes’ son Isaac Hayes III on X, formerly known as Twitter, reads.
We the family of @isaachayes Isaac Hayes Enterprises, represented by Walker & Associates, are suing @realDonaldTrump and his campaign for 134 counts copyright infringement for the unauthorized use of the song “Hold On I’m Coming” at campaign rallies from 2022-2024.
We demand… pic.twitter.com/GOBLz7ejYL
— Isaac Hayes III (@IsaacHayes3) August 11, 2024
The lawsuit results from Trump using the song, performed by Sam & Dave, at a rally as recently as July 31 in Harrisburg, PA.
Hayes and Porter, who worked at the Atlantic-distributed record label Stax at the time, came up with the title of the song when Hayes was trying to get Porter to hurry out of the Stax Studios restroom and get back to songwriting. The single hit the top of the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart and number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100.
A revamped version of the song, “Hold On, Edwin’s Coming,” was recorded by Sam & Dave as a promotional single for Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards’ third election campaign in 1982. However, the same can’t be said for Trump.
“It is most unfortunate that these artists have publicly posted on their social media and asked Team Trump and other candidates not to use their music—and yet their candidates keep using their music,” James L. Walker Jr., an attorney for Hayes Enterprises, previously stated.
The Isaac Hayes estate is the latest to file a response on behalf of a top artist or songwriter who has objected to Trump’s campaign use of their songs at political rallies. He has faced such lawsuits since he first ran for president in 2015.
Others who have sued Trump for copyright infringement for using their music include The Rolling Stones, Adele, Rihanna, Sinead O’Connor‘s estate, and Aerosmith‘s Steven Tyler. Hayes died Aug. 10, 2008, at the age of 65.
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