Former US President Donald Trump has been found liable to pay damages to London singer and songwriter Eddy Grant for using his song Electric Avenue without permission.
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| Former US President Donald Trump |
It has taken Mr Grant, 76, more than four years to sue the Republican candidate in this year’s presidential election in the US courts, over his 2020 campaign video that used a 40-second clip of the song.
The video was viewed 13.7 million times before Twitter, now known as X, took it down.
A federal judge in Manhattan ruled Mr Trump breached Mr Grant's copyright for his 1983 hit, and is now liable for damages as well as paying for the singer's legal fees.
Cease and desist
Mr Grant's battle with the former President began in August 2020, when he was seeking re-election to the White House. The songwriter's counsel, Wallace E.J. Collins, issued a cease and desist letter to Donald Trump's campaign team.
On Friday, Judge John G. Koeltl rejected arguments from Mr Trump’s lawyers that the Twitter video was shielded under copyright’s fair use doctrine, which allows for the use of protected works in certain situations.
Brian D. Caplan, Mr Grant’s attorney, told Business Insider: “As a staunch believer of artist’s rights and the ability to control their creative output, Mr. Grant believes that the decision will help others in their fight against the unauthorized use of sound recordings and musical compositions.
“Politicians are not above the law and the court reaffirmed that.”
source: bbc