ATLANTA – A federal judge in Atlanta made a significant ruling on Tuesday regarding former President Donald Trump and his campaign’s use of the song “Hold On, I’m Coming” by Sam and Dave.
The estate of Isaac Hayes Jr., one of the co-writers of the hit song, filed a lawsuit last month accusing Trump, his campaign, and allies of infringing on its copyright. The lawsuit sought damages for the unauthorized use of the song.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Thrash issued a ruling that Trump and his campaign must cease using the song, but did not require the removal of any existing videos featuring the music. The song, co-written by Hayes and David Porter, became a classic in 1966.
Ronald Coleman, an attorney for Trump, stated that the campaign had already agreed to refrain from using the song in the future. Coleman emphasized that the campaign had no intention of causing harm or annoyance to anyone, and they respected the court’s decision.
Isaac Hayes III, the son of the late songwriter, expressed his gratitude for the judge’s ruling and highlighted the importance of artists protecting their rights and music from unauthorized political use.
The case involving “Hold On, I’m Coming” is part of a larger trend where artists and their estates push back against politicians using their music without permission. Several high-profile artists, including Bruce Springsteen, Rihanna, and John Fogerty, have objected to Trump using their songs during his events.
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