Time: 2024-08-12
The family of the late soul and funk singer Isaac Hayes has taken legal action against former President Donald Trump for repeatedly using the Hayes - penned song Hold On , I 'm Comin ' at his campaign rallies . The song , written by Hayes and David Porter in 1966 for the duo Sam & Dave , has been a frequent feature at Trump 's events , with the former president even dancing along to it.
The family 's lawyer , James Walker Jr. , sent a letter demanding million in licensing fees for the unauthorized use of the song between 2022 and 2024 . The letter alleges copyright infringement and warns of further legal action if Trump does not comply with their demands . The Hayes family is seeking the cessation of the song 's use , removal of related videos , a public disclaimer , and the payment of the licensing fees.
Isaac Hayes III , the son of the late singer , has criticized Trump for using the song despite repeated requests to stop . He accused Trump of racism and disrespect towards women in a social media post . The family has emphasized that they own the copyright to the song and have not sold the publishing rights to any other entities.
The legal action against Trump is part of a larger trend of musicians opposing the unauthorized use of their work at political events . Other artists , including Celine Dion , have also spoken out against Trump for using their songs without permission . The lawsuit against Trump highlights the importance of respecting copyright laws and obtaining proper authorization for the use of copyrighted material.
The Hayes family 's decision to take legal action sends a clear message about the importance of protecting intellectual property rights . Artists and creators deserve to have control over how their work is used and should be compensated for its use . The lawsuit against Trump serves as a reminder to all individuals and organizations to respect copyright laws and obtain proper permissions before using copyrighted material in any public setting.
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