NEIL Young has sued President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign for playing his songs at rallies he considers “divisive” and “un-American.”
The Grammy Award-winning musician sued Trump’s campaign on Tuesday for copyright infringement for playing Rockin’ In The Free World and Devil’s Sidewalk.
Neil Young sued the Trump campaign over copyright infringement[/caption]
Young “in good conscience cannot allow his music to be used as a ‘theme song’ for a divisive, un-American campaign of ignorance and hate,” the lawsuit states.
The Trump campaign played Young’s tracks at a rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on June 20, and at several other rallies and events, according to the lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court.
Young is considering Trump a repeat offender.
The musician complained when Trump used Rockin’ In The Free World while announcing his presidential campaign back in June 2015.
The Trump campaign has played Neil Young’s songs including ‘Rockin’ In The Free World and Devil’s Sidewalk[/caption]
Neil Young has complained several times about the Trump campaign playing his songs at rallies[/caption]
At the time, the Trump campaign stated that it had obtained permission to play the song.
The lawsuit alleges that the Trump campaign has willfully ignored Young’s requests that it refrain from using his music and continues to do so without a license.
Young also spoke out in early July when Trump visited Mount Rushmore and played “Like a Hurricane,” among other tunes.
“Imagine what it feels like to hear Rockin’ In The Free World after this President speaks, like it is his theme song,” Young wrote on his website Neil Young Archives.
Trump has played Neil Young’s tunes at several campaign events[/caption]
“I did not write it for that.”
Young also posted a copy of his lawsuit on his website.
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Sun on Tuesday.
Young’s attorneys Ivan Saperstein in New York and Robert S. Besser in California filed the lawsuit on his behalf.
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Young is seeking up to $150,000 in statutory damages per infringement, as well as an injunction to prevent the Trump campaign from continuing to play his music at rallies.
The lawsuit states that Young is not taking legal action to disrespect American citizens’ opinions and rights, as they are “free to support the candidate of their choosing.”
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Young is not the only artist who is upset over the Trump campaign using songs.
The Rolling Stones threatened a lawsuit after the campaign played “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” at the president’s indoor rally in Oklahoma amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In addition, the late Tom Petty’s family issued a cease-and-desist order after the Trump campaign played “I Won’t Back Down” in Tulsa.
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