Judge orders Trump campaign to stop using song ‘Hold On, I’m Coming’ ahead of lawsuit from Isaac Hayes family
(The Hill) – A federal judge on Tuesday ordered former President Trump’s campaign to stop using the song “Hold On, I’m Coming” at events as Isaac Hayes’s family pursues a copyright lawsuit.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Thrash Jr. issued a preliminary injunction against Trump and his campaign, ruling it can no longer play the song at rallies.
The judge, however, denied a request from the Hayes estate to order the campaign to take down videos that included the song, The Associated Press reported.
Hayes, who died in 2008 at 65, co-wrote the legendary song, which was performed by the duo Sam & Dave. The song is frequently played at Trump rallies.
The Hayes estate filed a copyright lawsuit last month against Trump and several of his allies, alleging they were using the song without proper authorization and requesting damages be paid.
Both sides signaled they were pleased with the outcome of the emergency injunction hearing.
Ronald Coleman, an attorney for Trump, said in an emailed statement that Trump and his team had already agreed to stop playing the song at rallies, and he said he was glad they would not need to take down campaign videos.
“The only injunctive relief ordered was with respect to future use, which had already ceased voluntarily,” Coleman wrote in a statement. “The plaintiffs also wanted the court to order a takedown of all campaign videos in which the song could be heard – and that was denied on the grounds that the plaintiffs failed to show irreparable harm from those videos and in light of the important political free speech concerns that would have been implicated by a takedown order.”
“We are very pleased with this outcome,” he added.
Isaac Hayes III celebrated the order in remarks to reporters and on social media.
“Today our family was granted an injunction against @realdonaldtrump from playing @IsaacHayes3 music ever again. We are please with the decision by the court and move to the next phase of this lawsuit,” he wrote.
Many other artists have requested Trump stop using their music at rallies, including ABBA, Beyoncé, Celine Dion and the Foo Fighters.
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