As a lifelong fan of Isaac Hayes and his soulful tunes that have been the soundtrack to many of my most cherished moments, I can’t help but feel a surge of pride and admiration for his son, Isaac Hayes III. This man is standing up against the seemingly unstoppable force that is Team Trump, all in defense of his father’s legacy and artistic rights.
The legal team associated with former President Trump, along with several groups linked to him, will eventually need to appear in court to provide explanations for using popular music unlawfully at his rallies and functions for years. This practice has come under threat due to a lawsuit filed by the estate of the late musical legend Isaac Hayes, who was granted an emergency injunction in this case. The son of the songwriter shared this information through a social media post on Friday.
Isaac Hayes III, son of the renowned Grammy-winning soul music artist Isaac Hayes, recently informed The Hollywood Reporter that his family has sent a Copyright Infringement Notice, dated August 11, to both Donald Trump and his campaign team. This notice stated their intention to file a lawsuit over the repeated use of the Sam & Dave hit “Hold On, I’m Comin'” at Trump’s rallies. Hayes explained that, according to his records, this song has been played approximately 135 times in the last two years without any attempts by Trump’s office or campaign team to seek permission or pay for licensing the soul classic. He added that their calls to Trump’s company and campaign officials have gone unanswered.
According to court documents filed in Atlanta, the Hayes family is asking for several actions regarding a song. They want the usage of the song to stop, all related videos removed, a public announcement that they haven’t authorized, endorsed, or allowed the use of Isaac Hayes Enterprises’ property, and $3 million as licensing fees. Additionally, their lawyer has asked the campaign to issue an official statement clarifying this position, stating that neither the family nor the Hayes Estate has ever given permission for the use of the song or any related materials, either now or in the future, across the universe.
Last week, a federal judge appointed by ex-President Bill Clinton, Thomas W. Thrash Jr., granted Isaac Hayes Enterprises’ urgent request for a court hearing. On Friday, Hayes announced via X (previously known as Twitter) that the hearing is scheduled for September 3 in Atlanta.
“The Federal Court has agreed to hold an urgent hearing on our appeal for a temporary order. Donald Trump, his Twitter account @realdonaldtrump, the Republican National Committee (RNC), Trump’s 2024 campaign, Turning Point, and the NRA will all need to appear in court in Atlanta on September 3rd, 2024, at the Northern District Federal Court. We look forward to seeing you there.”
During a recent conversation with THR, Hayes expressed his anger after witnessing Trump dancing to his father’s song at a 2022 National Rifle Association rally in Montana, which took place following the Uvalde school shooting where 19 children and two adults lost their lives. “I was furious,” he stated. “After such a mass shooting, why would we use it at the NRA event?” he asked over the phone.
The lawsuit, apart from Trump and his presidential campaign, also includes the Republican National Committee, SuperPAC Turning Points USA, BTC Inc., the American Conservative Union, and the National Rifle Association. They are accused of using a specific song in their ads that promoted Trump’s presidency, primarily. The estate alleges that these organizations have indirectly or directly violated copyright laws by holding events where the copyrighted work was played as background music in videos they uploaded.
On Wednesday, James Walker, an attorney for the Hayes estate, filed an Urgent Request for Temporary Restraining Order in court. As previously shared with THR, Walker expressed high confidence in the case’s success. He also pointed out that although numerous artists have complained about Trump’s use of their songs, the financial and time-consuming nature of taking legal action against him and other alleged copyright offenders has served as a hindrance. Throughout his third presidential campaign, Trump and his team have faced such complaints, with artists like Celine Dion and Beyoncé among them.
On Sunday, Walker uploaded an Affidavit of Service onto his Instagram account. In this post, he stated that Trump had been disregarding cautions for a significant period, with the implication being that the estate would resort to legal action if Trump persisted in playing the song at his rallies without first acquiring the necessary rights.
“Walker praised @isaacHayes3 for being the pioneer among artists or artist representatives who bravely spoke up. For those supporting Trump, we empathize but urge you to familiarize yourselves with Title 17 (The Copyright Act of 1976) regarding music licensing and legalities. Please remember, we issued a two-year warning before filing this lawsuit, and now it’s time for everyone to recognize that. This isn’t about financial gain; it’s about preserving rights and safeguarding legacy, which @isaacHayes3 and @heatherHayes have demonstrated effectively in this case.”
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2024-08-26 22:26