Trump Campaign Ordered to Cease Using Hayes Song

A federal judge has ordered former President Donald Trump and his campaign to cease using the song "Hold On, I'm Coming" during campaign events, following a copyright infringement lawsuit from the estate of co-writer Isaac Hayes. The judge denied a request to remove existing videos featuring the song, emphasizing the balance between copyright law and free speech. Trump’s attorney stated that the campaign had already agreed not to use the song moving forward, respecting the wishes of the Hayes family. Isaac Hayes III expressed gratitude for the ruling, hoping it encourages other artists to protect their rights against unauthorized use of their music. The lawsuit claims the Trump campaign has used the song at least 135 times since 2020, which has drawn objections from various artists regarding the use of their music at Trump events. This decision follows a pattern of artists opposing Trump's use of their songs, reflecting broader concerns about copyright in political contexts.