Sept. 3 (UPI) — A federal judge in Georgia ruled that former President Donald Trump’s campaign must stop using the song “Hold On, I’m Coming” after the estate of late R&B artist Isaac Hayes filed suit to end it.
On Tuesday at the Richard B. Russell Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse in downtown Atlanta, Judge Thomas Thrash Jr. issued a preliminary injunction for the Trump campaign to pause use of the song “Hold On, I’m Coming” in videos, campaign rallies and events.
Hayes, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and an Oscar- and Grammy-winning singer, composer and producer, co-wrote the song in 1966. He died in 2008 from a stroke at his Tennessee home. He was 65.
“I do order Trump and his campaign to not use the song without proper license,” the judge said. However, Thrash did reject a motion by the Hayes estate to force the campaign to take down any previously recorded uses of the song.
Trump attorney Ronald Coleman told reporters after Tuesday’s decision they were pleased with Thrash’s choice not to remove videos that had previous uses of the song.
“The campaign has no interest in annoying or hurting anyone,” Coleman said. “And if the Hayes family feels it hurts or annoys them, that’s fine, we’re not going to force the issue.”
The ruling arrived after the estate of late songwriter Hayes sought an order to stop Trump’s campaign from utilizing the hit song originally released and popularized by soul and R&B duo Sam & Dave, alleging the political campaign did not have approval.
Lawyers for Hayes’ estate allege that Trump’s campaign team had played the song at various events more than 100 times over a two-year period.
Court documents obtained by CNN indicate the Hayes estate is seeking “compensatory damages for the unauthorized use” of Hayes’ work.
Representatives for Hayes joined Swedish pop band ABBA, the Foo Fighters, Céline Dion, Beyoncé, Johnny Marr of The Smiths, and the estate of late singer Sinéad O’Connor, who have all demanded that Trump, the Republican nominee, stop playing their songs in campaign videos or rallies.
“We are very grateful and happy for the decision by Judge Thrash,” Isaac Hayes III said after Tuesday’s hearing. “I want this to serve as an opportunity for other artists to come forward that don’t want their music used by Donald Trump or other political entities.”
