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Neil Young sues Trump 47 Committee for $10 million
Canadian-American musician Neil Young has filed a $10 million copyright infringement lawsuit against the Trump 47 Committee Inc. The legal action, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, follows the unauthorized use of Young’s 1989 song, “Rockin’ in the Free World,” during a campaign rally in Youngstown, Ohio, on October 12.
The lawsuit alleges that the committee violated a 2020 settlement in which Trump’s previous campaign organization had promised not to use the song without explicit licensing and permission. Young’s legal team argues that the song’s lyrical themes—which critique political rhetoric and highlight the struggles of the poor and homeless—are the “opposite of everything that Donald J. Trump stands for.”
In addition to seeking $10 million in damages, the complaint requests a permanent injunction to bar the committee from using the music for political purposes in the future. The filing asserts that the unauthorized use has caused damage to Young’s reputation and brand by creating the false impression of political endorsement.
Entities
Donald Trump · Neil Young · Scott Simmons · Trump 47 Committee Inc. · U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia · Youngstown, Ohio