According to The Express Tribune, in a striking legal move, Isaac Hayes' family has initiated a lawsuit against Donald Trump for unauthorized music usage at his political rallies.
The family seeks an injunction and $3 million in licensing fees for the use of the song "Hold On, I'm Coming" from 2022 to 2024.
Isaac Hayes III, representing his late father's estate, took to Twitter to announce the lawsuit directed at former President Trump, stirring significant attention online.
Isaac Hayes, a legendary soul musician, wrote "Hold On, I'm Coming" which has been used without the family's permission at various political events featuring Trump.
This legal action pinpoints a continuing issue of artists' rights versus political campaign practices in music usage.
The Federal Court reacted swiftly, scheduling an emergency hearing for September 3, 2024, to address this pressing copyright infringement claim.
With the hearing date set, the legal teams prepare for a confrontation that could set precedents for copyright law in the political arena.
This court date aims to resolve the dispute over whether Trump's campaign and associated organizations had the right to use the iconic track without consent.
Beyond Donald Trump himself, the lawsuit names several major conservative organizations as defendants.
The Republican National Committee (RNC), Trump for President Inc. 2024, Turning Point, and The National Rifle Association (NRA) are all implicated in the unauthorized use of the song.
This broad targeting hints at a widespread practice of using popular music without securing proper rights, a common issue in recent political campaigns.
The issue is not isolated to Isaac Hayes' music. Other renowned artists have voiced similar complaints regarding Trump rallies.
Celine Dion, Johnny Marr of The Smiths, and the Foo Fighters have all reported unauthorized uses of their music in political settings, echoing Hayes' grievances.
This collective frustration among artists points to a larger systemic issue that transcends individual incidents.
