Jack and Meg White of The White Stripes accused former President Donald Trump and his campaign of "flagrant misappropriation" for using their iconic song "Seven Nation Army" without permission. The lawsuit filed Monday in Manhattan federal court claims that the unauthorized use of the song in a video posted by Trump’s deputy communications director suggests an endorsement that the band vehemently opposes.
The dispute centers around a video clip in which Trump is seen ascending the stairs of a plane to the tune of "Seven Nation Army." Jack White, expressing his outrage on social media prior to the lawsuit, wrote: "Oh….Don’t even think about using my music, you fascists," signaling legal action to come. In announcing the lawsuit, White posted a screenshot of the complaint with the caption: “This machine sues fascists.”
The White Stripes claim that Trump's use of their music not only violates their copyright but also falsely associates them with Trump's political agenda, which they strongly oppose. The lawsuit specifically cites the former president's history of using music without proper licensing, despite previous warnings and legal actions from various artists, including the band itself, in 2016 when they publicly denounced Trump for using their music.
Under U.S. copyright law, campaigns can often use songs at rallies through blanket performance licenses from organizations like ASCAP or BMI. However, using a song in a video requires a separate sync license, which the White Stripes allege was not obtained, making Trump's use of the song a clear violation.
The White Stripes' lawsuit follows a broader trend of artists opposing Trump's use of their music. Recently, Beyoncé, Celine Dion, Foo Fighters, and the estates of Sinead O’Connor and Isaac Hayes have also objected to the unauthorized use of their songs. Hayes’ estate even secured a court injunction to prevent Trump from using the song "Hold On, I’m Coming" at rallies.
The White Stripes are now seeking damages for the unauthorized use of "Seven Nation Army" and a court order to prevent the Trump campaign from using the song in the future.
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