Twitter Deletes Trump Clip After REM’s Copyright Claim

CNBC reports:

A satirical video using music from rock band R.E.M., which was shared by the Twitter account of President Donald Trump, has been removed from the social media site after the publisher of the band’s songs complained.

A lawyer for Universal Music Publishing Group had reached out to Twitter on Friday asking that the video, which was first posted by another user, be taken down from the platform, according to a source familiar with the situation, who asked to remain anonymous.

The clip, which runs more than two minutes in length, plays audio from R.E.M.’s early-’90s hit single “Everybody Hurts” over excerpts from Trump’s Feb. 5 State of the Union address.

The video, created by Twitter user Carpe Donkum, mocks the looks on the faces of Democrats as Trump delivered his address. Trump cultists are reposting it at this writing. Many performers have objected to Trump’s unauthorized use of their work.