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Hold On, I'm Suing: Artists' Copyright Claims over the Trump Campaign's Use of Their Music and What Some Courts Have Ruled In Similar Instances

Artists protesting the use of their music in political campaign settings and threatening to sue has been in the news a lot this election season. This article provides a refresher on the smattering of notable decisions as well as a look at the latest in the lawsuit by the estate of Isaac Hayes over the Trump campaign's use of the classic soul song "Hold On, I'm Coming."

8 minute read October 01, 2024 at 12:05 AM
By
Stan Soocher
Hold On, I'm Suing: Artists' Copyright Claims over the Trump Campaign's Use of Their Music and What Some Courts Have Ruled In Similar Instances

During his political career, former President Donald Trump has become notorious for provoking protests from a wide range artists whose music they say he uses for political purposes, at rallies and in videos, without the artists' permission.

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The Copyright Royalty Board (CRB), which works under the umbrella of the Librarian of Congress, sets statutory-license royalty terms and rates. The U.S. Courts of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit recently issued two notable decisions about the CRB.

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