Donald Trump has lost a significant legal battle regarding the unauthorized use of Eddy Grant's 1983 hit song, "Electric Avenue." The ruling was made by a federal judge in Manhattan after Trump used a 40-second clip of the song in a campaign video during his 2020 presidential run. This particular video garnered 13.7 million views before Twitter, currently known as X, removed it.
Judge John G. Koeltl determined that Trump had infringed on Grant's copyright rights and is now liable for damages, in addition to covering the legal fees incurred by Grant's legal representation. Trump's legal team previously asserted that the use of the song in the video fell under the copyright fair use doctrine, but this argument was dismissed by the court on September 13.
Brian D. Caplan, Grant's attorney, conveyed that this decision represents a vital affirmation of artists' rights, emphasizing that politicians are not above the law. He believes that this ruling may encourage other artists who face similar unauthorized usage of their music to pursue legal action.
This legal dispute is not an isolated incident for Trump, as he has faced multiple lawsuits concerning unauthorized music use during his campaigns. Earlier this week, The White Stripes filed a similar lawsuit regarding the song "Seven Nation Army," while the estate of Isaac Hayes is seeking $3 million due to numerous instances of the unauthorized use of his song "Hold On, I'm Coming."
Notably, other artists such as ABBA, Beyoncé, Celine Dion, and Johnny Marr have also demanded that Trump cease using their music in connection with his rallies and campaigns. The conflicts reflect a growing concern in the music industry regarding the appropriation of artists' works without authorization.
For further details, you can view the full article on NME.