The estate of the late soul musician Isaac Hayes has filed a lawsuit against former President Donald Trump’s campaign, alleging unauthorized use of the 1966 hit song “Hold On, I’m Comin’” at campaign events.
Isaac Hayes Estate Sues Over Song Usage
The lawsuit, initiated by Isaac Hayes III, the son of the legendary songwriter, claims that Trump’s campaign has repeatedly used the song without proper licensing or permission. The lawsuit was announced in early August and demands an emergency injunction to halt further use of the song.
The legal dispute escalated last week when a federal judge in Georgia scheduled an emergency hearing at the request of Hayes’ estate. The estate is seeking $3 million in damages, citing 134 counts of copyright infringement. The complaint alleges that Trump’s campaign has unlawfully profited from Hayes’ reputation by using the song at rallies without paying the required licensing fees, amounting to approximately $150,000 per unauthorized performance.
Trump Campaign Denies Copyright Violation
In response to the lawsuit, Trump’s campaign filed a 23-page legal brief over the weekend, challenging the claims made by Hayes’ estate. The campaign’s central argument is that Hayes’ estate does not own the copyright to “Hold On, I’m Comin’.” According to the filing, the rights to the song have been transferred through various transactions over the decades, leaving Universal Music Group Publishing (UMPG) and Warner Chappell Music Publishing as the current copyright holders. The campaign argues that all licensing for the song is controlled exclusively by UMPG, making the estate’s claims baseless.
To support their defense, the Trump campaign included a declaration from Sam Moore, the surviving member of the duo Sam and Dave, who originally performed the song. Moore provided a detailed account of the song’s copyright history, confirming that the rights were assigned to STAX in 1966 and later transferred to Atlantic Records. Moore emphasized that the licensing for the song is now controlled by UMPG, further weakening the estate’s claim to ownership.
Allegations of Political Bias and Legal Proceedings
Adding another layer to the defense, Moore’s declaration also suggests that Isaac Hayes was not inherently opposed to the Republican Party. He recalled instances where Hayes performed at events organized by prominent Republicans, including a high school reunion for Lee Atwater, the former Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Moore’s testimony challenges the presumption that Hayes would have opposed the use of his music at Republican events, potentially influencing the court’s perspective on the case.
As the legal battle unfolds, Trump’s campaign insists that they have the proper license to use the song, citing a Music License for Political Entities obtained from BMI in 2022. They argue that the estate’s omission of this fact raises questions about the credibility of their claims.
The court has scheduled the emergency hearing for September 3, where both parties will present their arguments. Meanwhile, Turning Point USA, a conservative organization named in the lawsuit, has filed a separate motion claiming they were improperly added as defendants. They deny hosting any of the events where the song was allegedly played without authorization. As the hearing approaches, the legal dispute over “Hold On, I’m Comin’” highlights the complexities of copyright ownership and the potential consequences of unauthorized music use in political campaigns. The outcome of the case could set a precedent for similar disputes in the future.
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