White Stripes File Copyright Suit Against Trump for Campaign's Use of Music
The suit from Jack White and Meg White contends the Trump campaign misappropriated the signature riff from their song "Seven Nation Army" in a video posted to social media.
September 10, 2024 at 09:26 AM
By Michelle Morgante
What You Need to Know
- Trump, his campaign and a communications staffer are named as defendants.
- The White Stripes contend they objected to Trump's earlier use of the song in 2016.
- The suit follows a complaint pending in Georgia over Trump's use of a song by Isaac Hayes.
The artists behind the Grammy-winning band The White Stripes filed suit Monday against Donald Trump, his presidential campaign and a campaign staff member for allegedly misusing one of their most popular songs in a video posted on social media.
The suit was filed by Robert Jacobs of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
The complaint was surfaced by Law.com Radar.
John White and Megan White, who perform as Jack White and Meg White in the band, contend the defendants willfully misappropriated the song "Seven Nation Army" in a video posted to X, Instagram and possibly other social platforms in late August. The video showed Trump boarding an aircraft for campaign stops in Michigan and Wisconsin, with the only sound being the song's signature riff, according to the complaint.
The riff, it said, "is one of the most memorable and widely recognized pieces of modern-day music." The song was released as part of the White Stripes' 2003 album "Elephant," which won a Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album.
The suit said the defendants were aware they were not authorized to use the copyrighted song because the plaintiffs had denounced its use by Trump and his campaign during his 2016 presidential run, "stating in no uncertain terms that they were 'disgusted by that association.'"
The recent use of the song, it said, "is even more offensive" to the plaintiffs because they "vehemently oppose the policies adopted and actions taken by defendant Trump when he was president and those he has proposed for the second term he seeks."
The song and video were posted by social accounts associated with Margo Martin, who is named as a co-defendant and is identified in the complaint as the Trump campaign's deputy communications chief.
A message sent to the Trump campaign seeking comment Monday was not immediately answered.
Jacobs declined to comment on the pending litigation. Messages sent to Third Man Records, the label representing the White Stripes, were not immediately answered.
While many artists have publicly objected to use of their songs by the Trump campaign, there have been few lawsuits filed. Campaigns often purchase blanket licenses that allow them access to music through a performing rights organization such as BMI (Broadcast Music Inc.) or the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, known as ASCAP.
It was unclear whether "Seven Nation Army" was included in any such license. Messages sent to BMI and ASCAP were not answered Monday.
Last week, a district court in Georgia issued a preliminary injunction to stop the campaign from using "Hold On, I'm Coming," which was co-written by Isaac Hayes and became a hit for the soul duo Sam & Dave in 1966. Hayes' estate contends it revoked permission for the campaign to use the song as part of a political-use license issued by BMI. The campaign said it had voluntarily decided to no longer use the song.
In seeking a jury trial, the White Stripes are asking for injunctive relief to prevent the defendants from infringing on the plaintiffs' copyright. It also asked that the court order the defendants to account for any profits or gains it received from use of the song. It seeks an award of damages and any profits or gains enjoyed by the defendants.