As reported by Business Insider via AOL, lawyers representing former president Donald Trump and legendary musician Eddy Grant are scheduled to appear in a Manhattan courtroom on September 6th to contest a legal battle over Grant’s iconic '80s hit "Electric Avenue."
The dispute stems from a tweet that Trump posted in August 2020 featuring a cartoon mocking Joe Biden, which included 40 seconds of Grant’s song "Electric Avenue" as a soundtrack. The tweet garnered 13.7 million views before Twitter removed it, and Grant alleges that this unauthorized use entitles him to $300,000 in damages.
While Grant, a UK citizen and Barbados resident, is one of several artists who have objected to Trump's use of their music during his presidential campaigns, he stands out as one of the few who have taken legal action. Notably, Neil Young and the estate of Isaac Hayes have also confronted Trump over the unauthorized use of their music.
In response to Grant's lawsuit, Trump's legal team is poised to offer a vigorous defense. They plan to assert that Grant failed to secure the sound recording, or "master," for "Electric Avenue," despite copyrighting the sheet music four decades ago. According to Trump's lawyers, the absence of a sound-recording copyright nullifies Grant's claim of infringement.
Grant’s legal representatives contest this argument, asserting that he obtained the US copyright for the sheet music of "Electric Avenue" in 1983, when the song became a chart-topping hit. They also claim that Grant acquired the sound-recording copyright in 2001 as part of a compilation released by Warner Records.
The impending court hearing on September 6th will revolve around the scope of Grant's copyright, specifically whether it encompasses the entire album or each song individually. Additionally, Grant’s recent application for a sound-recording copyright registration of "Electric Avenue" has introduced a new layer to the legal dispute.
Despite the protracted legal battle, no trial date has been set, and the case has been characterized by pandemic-related delays, changes in legal representation, and unsuccessful settlement negotiations.
Both Trump and Grant have been subjected to depositions, and the eventual trial is expected to scrutinize the fair use of the song in Trump's tweet and determine the potential impact on the song's value due to its association with the former president.
As of the time of writing, representatives for both parties have declined to issue comments on the ongoing legal proceedings.
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