Update: Isaac Hayes’ Estate Sues Donald Trump Campaign For $3 Million For Unauthorized Use Of ‘Hold On, I’m Coming’

Update: Isaac Hayes’ Estate Sues Donald Trump Campaign For $3 Million For Unauthorized Use Of ‘Hold On, I’m Coming’

Update (Aug. 21, 2024): Isaac Hayes’ estate has officially filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump’s campaign for using the late singer’s song “Hold On, I’m Coming” at campaign events and in commercials without permission.

The complaint, which also names the Republican National Committee and conservative group Turning Point USA, was filed in the Georgia federal court recently, according to multiple reports.

The estate is suing for $3 million in licensing fees, an amount it says is

“a very discounted fee for the normal license fee associated with this many multiple uses. The normal fee for these infringements will be 10 times as much if we litigate, starting at $150,000 per use.”

The estate also wants the defendants to issue a message that it never

“authorized, endorsed, or permitted use of the Isaac Hayes Enterprises’ property at any point, now or in perpetuity throughout the universe.”

Original (Aug. 12, 2024): Isaac Hayes’ family is taking a stand against Donald Trump’s presidential campaign over the repeated, unauthorized use of his song, Hold On, I’m Coming.

The estate of the late musician, who co-wrote the song with David Porter and recorded by Sam & Dave in 1966, has issued a formal threat of legal action demanding $3 million.

Isaac Hayes

This follows a series of reported breaches by Donald Trump’s campaign, which Isaac Hayes’ family claims have occurred more than a hundred times at rallies from 2022 to 2024.

In a tweet from the official Isaac Hayes account, the estate declared:

“We the family of @isaachayes Isaac Hayes Enterprises, represented by Walker & Associates, are suing @realDonaldTrump and his campaign for 134 counts of copyright infringement for the unauthorized use of the song ‘Hold On I’m Coming’ at campaign rallies from 2022-2024.”

The Notice of Copyright Infringement details the family’s legal stance, stating:

“We will take all legal action required to enforce the infringed-upon intellectual property rights, including but not limited to sending third-party take-down requests and/or federal litigation. If we are forced to file a federal lawsuit due to your continued intentional and unlawful actions, we will seek disgorgement of all profits earned from the unauthorized use, the maximum statutory damages available (as high as $150,000 per use for willful copyright infringement), and the recovery of all related attorney’s fees and costs.”

Isaac Hayes III, the son of the late artist who passed away in 2008, expressed frustration over the weekend, saying:

“Today, on the anniversary of my father @isaachayes death, we have repeatedly asked Donald Trump, the RNC, and his representatives not to use ‘Hold On I’m Coming’ written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter during campaign rallies. Yet again, in Montana, they used it. Donald Trump represents the worst in integrity and class with his disrespect and sexual abuse of women and racist rhetoric. We will now deal with this very swiftly.”

This isn’t the first time the Hayes estate has confronted Trump over the use of his music. Back in November 2022, the estate warned that legal action was imminent if the unauthorized use did not cease. At that time, the estate tweeted:

“Once again, The estate and family of Isaac Hayes DID NOT approve the use of ‘Hold On I’m Coming’ by Sam and Dave by Donald Trump at his 2024 Presidential announcement tonight. We are exploring multiple legal options to stop this unauthorized use.”

The latest legal demand sets a deadline of August 16 for the campaign to cease using the song and comply with the estate’s demands.

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