Trump Loses “Electric Avenue” Copyright Lawsuit

Billboard Magazine reports:

Donald Trump infringed copyrights by using Eddy Grant’s iconic “Electric Avenue” in a 2020 campaign video without permission, a federal judge ruled Friday (Sept. 13), rejecting Trump’s argument that he made legal fair use of the song.

The video at issue, shared by Trump on Twitter, featured a red “Trump” train outrunning a handcar driven by Biden, as audio clips of Biden’s speeches played above Grant’s 1982 hit. Grant’s attorneys said the campaign had refused to remove the clip even after they were warned — meaning that Trump was acting as if he was “above the law.”

Friday’s ruling means that Trump and his campaign have been held legally liable for copyright infringement, but it leaves undecided the amount he must ultimately pay Grant in damages. That issue will be resolved in future proceedings.

Read the full article. In a similar case, last month Trump lost the first round in a copyright suit brought by the estate of Isaac Hayes.

Donald Trump Infringed ‘Electric Avenue’ By Using Song In Campaign Video, Judge Rules https://t.co/bD0adM2cNz

— billboard (@billboard) September 13, 2024