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The family of late singer/songwriter Isaac Hayes is demanding former President Donald Trump stop using his song "Hold On, I'm Comin'" at rallies.
According to USA Today, lawyer James Walker filed a copyright infringement notice on behalf of Hayes' family against Trump, ordering his campaign to pay $3 million in licensing fees for its prior use of "Hold On I'm Comin.'" The song was performed by soul group Sam & Dave and written by Hayes and David Porter.
Hayes' son condemned Trump's use of the song in an Instagram post on Saturday (August 10), the 16th anniversary of the musician's death.
"Donald Trump epitomizes a lack of integrity and class, not only through his continuous use of my father's music without permission but also through his history of sexual abuse against women and his racist rhetoric," Hayes III said on social media. "This behavior will no longer be tolerated, and we will take swift action to put an end to it."
The Hayes' lawyer said Trump "wilfully and brazenly" committed copyright infringement and continued to use the song "despite being asked repeatedly not to engage in such illegal use" by the family. According to the lawyer, Hayes' song has been used so often by Trump's campaign over the past two years that the $3 million they're asking for is "heavily discounted."
If the issue isn't resolved, the family is threatening to sue Trump for 134 counts of copyright infringement over unauthorized use of the song. The potential lawsuit would seek $150,000 in damages per use of the song.
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