A federal judge has ordered Donald Trump's presidential campaign to immediately halt its use of Isaac Hayes' iconic song, "Shaft," after the late singer's estate filed a copyright infringement lawsuit. The court found that the Trump campaign had not obtained a valid license to use the song, despite claims to the contrary.
A federal judge has ordered Donald Trump's presidential campaign to immediately cease and desist from using Isaac Hayes' iconic song, "Shaft." The ruling came after the late singer's estate filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against the Trump campaign for unauthorized use of the song.
Trump Ordered to Cease and Desist Use of Isaac Hayes' Song
The estate argued that the Trump campaign had not obtained a valid license to use the song and that the campaign's continued use of the song without permission constituted an infringement of their copyright. The court agreed with the estate's arguments and issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting the Trump campaign from using the song.
The court found that the Trump campaign had not contacted the estate prior to using the song and that the campaign had no evidence of a valid license from the copyright holder. The court also noted that the Trump campaign had continued to use the song even after being notified by the estate that they did not have permission to do so.
The Trump campaign has claimed that it had a license to use the song, but the court rejected this claim, citing a lack of evidence to support it. The campaign has stated that it is appealing the court's decision.
The use of "Shaft" by the Trump campaign has been met with criticism from many, including Hayes' family and friends. Hayes' widow, Adjua Parker, said that she was "disgusted" by the campaign's use of her husband's song without permission.
The song "Shaft" was released in 1971 and became an instant hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song has been featured in numerous films and television shows and is considered a classic of popular music.
The copyright infringement lawsuit is the latest in a series of legal challenges facing the Trump campaign. The campaign has been sued by several organizations, including the Republican National Committee, for various alleged violations of the law.
The court's order is a significant setback for the Trump campaign, which has relied heavily on music to pump up its supporters at rallies and events. The campaign has used various songs without permission, including those by Queen, Aerosmith, and The Rolling Stones.
The ruling is also a victory for music industry groups, which have been fighting to protect the rights of artists and songwriters. The groups argue that the unauthorized use of music by political campaigns is a serious problem that hurts artists financially and undermines the integrity of their work.
The outcome of the copyright infringement lawsuit against the Trump campaign is still uncertain, but the court's order is a clear warning to the campaign and other political organizations that they cannot use music without permission from the copyright holder.
