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Events / Political / Donald Trump Settles Isaac Hayes Lawsuit
Domestic legal settlement

Donald Trump Settles Isaac Hayes Lawsuit

Analysis based on 6 articles · First reported Feb 23, 2026 · Last updated Feb 24, 2026

Sentiment
0
Attention
2
Articles
6
Market Impact
General
Live prominence charts, article sentiment distribution, and event development timeline available on the Ergen Dashboard
Market Impact

The settlement of the copyright infringement lawsuit between Donald Trump and the estate of Isaac Hayes highlights the increasing importance of intellectual property rights in the entertainment industry. This event could encourage other artists to pursue legal action against unauthorized use of their work, potentially leading to more licensing agreements and revenue streams for creators, while also increasing legal costs for political campaigns.

Music Legal Services
Event Summary

Donald Trump has settled a lawsuit with the estate of Isaac Hayes over the unauthorized use of the song 'Hold On, I'm Coming' in his 2020 and 2024 presidential campaigns. The lawsuit, filed in August 2024 by Isaac Hayes' estate, alleged that Donald Trump's campaign used the song 133 times without permission, infringing on copyright. Isaac Hayes III, son and estate manager, announced the settlement on social media, expressing satisfaction with the outcome and emphasizing the importance of protecting intellectual property rights. U.S. District Judge Thomas Thrash Jr. had previously granted a preliminary injunction in September 2024, ordering the Donald Trump campaign to cease using the song. The financial terms of the settlement were not disclosed. This event is part of a broader trend of artists, including Sabrina Carpenter, ABBA, Celine Dion, Beyoncé, The White Stripes, and Olivia Rodrigo, objecting to Donald Trump's use of their music without consent.

Entities Involved
per
Isaac Hayes
The estate of Isaac Hayes filed and settled a lawsuit against Donald Trump for copyright infringement, reaffirming the importance of intellectual property rights.
Importance 80.0 Sentiment 10.0
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Isaac Hayes III
Isaac Hayes III, son and estate manager of Isaac Hayes, announced the settlement and expressed satisfaction with the outcome, emphasizing the protection of intellectual property rights.
Importance 70.0 Sentiment 10.0
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David Porter
David Porter co-wrote 'Hold On, I'm Coming' with Isaac Hayes, the song at the center of the copyright infringement lawsuit.
Importance 20.0 Sentiment 0.0
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Thomas Thrash Jr.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Thrash Jr. granted a preliminary injunction compelling the Donald Trump campaign to stop using the song.
Importance 10.0 Sentiment 0.0
per
Ronald Colman
Ronald Colman is Donald Trump's personal legal counsel, who stated the campaign had already agreed not to use the song.
Importance 10.0 Sentiment 0.0
per
Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina Carpenter is one of several artists who have objected to Donald Trump using their songs without permission.
Importance 5.0 Sentiment 0.0
oth
ABBA
ABBA is one of several artists who have objected to Donald Trump using their songs without permission.
Importance 5.0 Sentiment 0.0
oth
The White Stripes
The White Stripes filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump for unauthorized use of their music.
Importance 5.0 Sentiment 0.0
per
Olivia Rodrigo
Olivia Rodrigo complained about the White House using her songs in social media videos.
Importance 5.0 Sentiment 0.0
subs
Warner Music Group — Warner Chappell Music
Warner Music Group — Warner Chappell Music was mentioned in the context of the chain of ownership for Isaac Hayes' publishing rights.
Importance 5.0 Sentiment 0.0
per
Beyoncé
Beyoncé sent a cease-and-desist letter to Donald Trump regarding the unauthorized use of her music.
Importance 5.0 Sentiment 0.0
per
Celine Dion
Celine Dion is one of several artists who have objected to Donald Trump using their songs without permission.
Importance 5.0 Sentiment 0.0
cnt
United States
Importance 0.0 Sentiment 0.0
per
Donald Trump
Importance 0.0 Sentiment 0.0
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