As a seasoned gamer who has spent countless hours navigating the virtual world of intellectual property rights, I find myself deeply intrigued by this real-life battle between Isaac Hayes III and Donald Trump. Having played countless games that involve copyright infringement and digital piracy, I can’t help but draw parallels to my gaming life.
Following a potential legal action mentioned over the weekend involving Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and himself, the attorneys for the White House candidate have persisted in disregarding the family of the late soul legend Isaac Hayes, who claim they’ve been ignored for years. Simultaneously, Hayes’ son and the lawyer representing his family made efforts this Monday to prohibit the performance of an early hit song written by the artist at rallies and gatherings, as both parties asserted.
Isaac Hayes III, son of the late Grammy-winning soul music icon, verified with The Hollywood Reporter what he had previously posted on social media: the family intends to sue the Trump campaign for repeatedly using their father’s song “Hold On, I’m Comin'” at their rallies without seeking permission or paying royalties. Hayes stated that as far as he knows, the song has been played approximately 135 times over several years without the team ever requesting authorization or compensating for the licensing of this classic soul track.
As a gamer, I’d rephrase that like this: “Back in the day, Isaac Hayes, a music legend, co-wrote a track that gained attention as recently as August 9th at a Montana rally for Trump and way back, as far as he could remember, at a 2022 National Rifle Association event following the Uvalde school shooting, where innocents lost their lives. It’s particularly offensive to Hayes that Trump chose to end his speech with this very track, which he danced to, given its title and considering it was played roughly 300 miles from the tragic mass shooting that brought scrutiny upon local law enforcement. The fact that this song, promoting guns, was used in such close proximity to a gun-related tragedy is something that Hayes finds incredibly irritating.”
“Hayes expressed his anger to THR, saying, ‘After the tragic mass shooting, it’s baffling that they’re using it at the NRA convention. I was considering a legal move because President Trump has made inappropriate comments about women, and yet here is a man convicted of sexual abuse. As a brother to seven sisters, I don’t want people to associate ‘Hold On’ with Donald Trump.'”
Throughout his three election runs, various artists and musical acts have publicly expressed that Donald Trump’s campaign has been using their copyrighted music at MAGA rallies and gatherings without obtaining necessary permissions. Artists such as Hayes, Adele, Earth Wind & Fire, the estate of Tom Petty, and John Fogarty have all made statements requesting the campaign to cease this practice. Just last week, Celine Dion also voiced her opposition on social media against the use of “My Heart Will Go On” at a rally.
In copyright law, a person who believes they have been wronged has limited time to notify the suspected violator and then take further legal action. To make sure our case starts before the deadline passes, James L. Walker, our lawyer for the Hayes family, stated that we need to submit the complaint immediately.
In essence, I believe Isaac Jr. has been considerate by politely requesting him to eliminate it. However, when someone disregards your time, there’s no other choice but to bring the matter to a court of law. Apparently, both he and Hayes’ son have been ignored by Trump’s legal team and administrative staff.
However, what makes Hayes unique among many is his willingness to potentially file a lawsuit against the former president, who aspires to regain the office in November. According to Walker, the primary reasons are the trouble involved and the substantial costs associated with suing Trump.
“Walker pointed out that most artists are either unwilling or unable to invest the time or money, respectively. Interestingly, Mr. Hayes is part of a select group who grasp copyright and its protection, as well as the safeguarding of publishing rights. This knowledge is something he shares with many others, if not more so.”
In 2022, Hayes mentioned that it was only then that the estate obtained the rights to the 1966 hit song which Trump danced casually with NRA executives on stage. The copyright for such works is protected from its initial publication, lasting for a period of 28 years, renewable for another term of 28 years, totaling 56 years of protection.
In my opinion, should the hypothetical situation arise, I wholeheartedly believe that either Walker or Hayes would emerge victorious. Walker asserts that copyright law is clear-cut, implying that Trump’s case would be dismissed, and he would end up paying a substantial amount, surpassing the $3 billion mark.
“Hayes demanded a complete removal of the specified song along with the quantity requested,” he stated firmly. “Moreover, he explicitly forbade its future usage.”
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2024-08-13 04:24