Family Threatens Donald Trump’s Campaign With Copyright Lawsuit Over Use Of “Hold On, I’m Coming”

https://deadline.com/2024/08/isaac-hayes-trump-hold-on-copyright-infringement-1236037793/

The family of Isaac Hayes is threatening to sue Donald Trump‘s campaign over what they say is the unauthorized use of the song “Hold On, I’m Coming” at rallies.

The family posted a legal letter from an attorney to the campaign, demanding that it stop using the work, which Hayes co-wrote with David Porter and was originally recorded by Sam & Dave in 1966.

The family’s attorney, James Walker, claims that the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee “have willfully and brazenly engaged in copyright infringement” by using the song at rallies “over one hundred times.” They are demanding payment of at least $3 million, plus a removal of all videos featuring the song and a statement that Hayes’ family and estate never authorized its use. Walker wrote that the Trump campaign also “have not obtained a license or other authorization” to use the song.

Porter also has said that he did not authorize the use of the song, according to The Guardian. Hayes died in 2008.