ATLANTA– A federal judge in Atlanta ruled Tuesday that Donald Trump and his campaign must stop using the song “Hold On, I’m Coming,” while the family of one of the song’s co-writers files a lawsuit against the former president for its use.
The Legacy of Isaac Hayes Jr. filed a lawsuit last month claiming that Trump, his campaign and some of his allies had committed copyright infringement and should pay damages. After a hearing on the estate’s request for a preliminary emergency injunction, U.S. District Judge Thomas Thrash ruled that Trump must stop using the song, but denied a request to force the campaign to remove all existing videos featuring it number was.
Hayes, who died in 2008 at the age of 65, and David Porter co-wrote ‘Hold On, I’m Coming’, a 1966 hit for the soul duo Sam and Dave.
Ronald Coleman, a lawyer for Trump, told reporters after the hearing that the campaign had already agreed not to use the song in the future: “The campaign has no interest in annoying or hurting anyone, and if the If the Hayes family feels it hurts or annoys them, that’s fine, we’re not going to force the issue.”
Coleman said they were grateful that the judge agreed that at this point in the lawsuit it would exceed his power to order the campaign to remove existing videos.
Hayes’ son, Isaac Hayes III, told reporters he is “very grateful and happy” for the judge’s decision.
“I want this to be an opportunity for other artists to come forward who do not want their music to be used by Donald Trump or other political entities and continue to fight for the rights and copyrights of music artists,” he said.
A series of artists and their heirs have objected to Trump’s use of their songs at his events. Following a Trump campaign rally in Bozeman, Montana, last month, a video of Celine Dion performing “My Heart Will Go On” was released, and her team released a statement saying the singer did not endorse that use of her song and said ‘under no circumstances’. this use is permitted.”
Ahead of the 2020 election, Bruce Springsteen, Rihanna, Phil Collins, Pharrell, John Fogerty, Neil Young, Eddy Grant, Panic! at the Disco, REM and Guns N’ Roses all objected to Trump’s use of their songs.
