MusicRights News & Analysis

Neil Young Sues Trump Committee for $10M Over Song Use at Rally

Musician Neil Young filed a $10 million lawsuit against President Donald Trump's campaign committee, Trump 47, for copyright infringement. The suit claims the committee used Young's song "Rockin' in the Free World" without permission at an October 12 rally in Youngstown, Ohio, just before Trump spoke. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Richmond, Virginia, alleges the song was played at multiple rallies to encourage Republican votes in the mid-term elections. It states that Trump and his committee were aware a license was required but did not obtain one. This is not Young's first lawsuit against Trump's campaign entities for unauthorized song use; a 2020 case involving another Trump group resulted in a settlement and a promise not to use Young's music without permission. Young's suit references five additional unidentified defendants believed to be liable for copyright infringement. The song "Rockin' in the Free World," released in 1989, is described as a political anthem contrasting American political rhetoric with economic and social hardships. Young is a two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and a naturalized U.S. citizen. The case highlights legal challenges related to copyright in political campaigns. For ordinary investors, this lawsuit points to potential legal and financial risks for political campaign committees, including substantial copyright infringement damages that may impact campaign expenses and operations.