"Each songwriter belongs to a single PRO, so the Trump campaign would have needed to secure a license from the appropriate PRO," Litman said.
According to BMI, Trump's campaign has taken out a "political entities license" from BMI for his 2016, 2020, and 2024 campaigns.
Advertisement"If no license was obtained, the copyright owners in the songs can sue Trump, and they would win," Litman said.
Trump's campaign has used Hayes' music at the former president's rallies more than 100 times and as recently as Saturday, Walker said.
Walker, a 30-year entertainment-copyright lawyer, said the Hayes family hired him "after getting no response" from the Trump campaign for two years.
Persons:
—, Donald Trump, Celine Dion, Trump's, Isaac Hayes, Trump, Hayes, Isaac Hayes III, Jessica Litman, Litman, Jodie Thomas, Thomas, Rihanna, Elton John, Neil Young, Pharrell Williams, Eddy Grant, Grant, James Walker Jr, Walker, we've
Organizations:
Service, Business, Republican, University of Michigan, American Society of Composers, Publishers, Music Inc, ASCAP, BMI, Trump, BI, National Rifle Association
Locations:
Montana, Hayes, , Texas