MEMPHIS, Tenn — Attorneys for the family of Memphis-based Stax recording artist Isaac Hayes have issued a warning to former President Donald Trump’s campaign to stop using Hayes’ music, and demanding licensing fees for its previous use.
In a letter posted by the family to Isaac Hayes’ X – formerly Twitter – account, the family said it is represented by Walker & Associates. They said they are suing Trump and his campaign for 134 counts of unauthorized use of the song “Hold On (I’m Coming)” at rallies from 2022 through 2024.
In the letter to the Trump, his campaign, and the Republican National Convention (RNC), the attorneys said the campaign has been asked “repeatedly not to engage in such illegal use.” The attorneys said all of the parties have “willfully and brazenly engaged in copyright infringement” by their use of the song.
The letter claims the campaign used the song again just two nights before the letter was dated on Aug. 11, “even with your office apparently aware that you had no permission.”
The attorneys’ letter demanded by Aug. 16, 2024, the campaign must:
Cease and desist use of the song or any other intellectual property of Isaac Hayes Enterprises and his estate.
Remove any videos from websites or other outlets which feature the song, or any inference of the song, connected to the Trump campaign and RNC or any affiliated entity.
Release an official statement from the campaign and widely distribute it letting everyone know that the Hayes estate did not authorize, endorse, or permit its use at any point.
Pay a $3,000,000 license fee, which the letter said, “is a very discounted fee for the normal license fee associated with this many multiple uses.” They letter said under the normal fee, if litigated, would start at $150,000 per use.
The letter continues on, telling the campaign the letter serves as notice to preserve all evidence which may be relevant to litigation, which attorneys said could be taken to federal court.
The attorneys said if they do not get a response by Aug. 16, they will proceed with litigation.
