Donald Trump and Eddie Grant settle lawsuit over ‘Electric Avenue’ campaign video

In 2020, Donald Trump shared a campaign video on Twitter that used Eddie Grant’s 1982 hit “Electric Avenue”. Soon after this, the musician filed a lawsuit. copyright infringement. Progress in the case moved slowly, but the case was dismissed two months later after it was determined that Trump had indeed infringed Grant’s copyright..

According to Billboardthe lawsuit was settled without the need for further litigation. The official amount Trump owes Grant in damages has not been disclosed.

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In 2020, Eddie Grant’s official website published a press release claiming that Trump was responsible for more than $100 million. The artist’s legal counsel, Wallace E. J. Collin, said at the time: “As a result of your unlawful, unauthorized, infringing use in connection with your controversial political campaign, my client and his reputation have suffered substantial and irreparable harm. as an artist when associated in any way with your campaign.”

He added: “We prefer to resolve this dispute as quickly as possible to avoid lengthy and costly litigation and the negative publicity that may surround the unauthorized use of such an iconic musical composition, especially when the use indicates a fundamental misunderstanding of the meaning itself.” main job.”

Grant then included a brief statement, writing: “I call upon such arbiter, who is responsible for this heinous abuse, to come forward as a man and let us deal with this matter as America demands when such matters must be decided.” be sorted, especially when they are wrong. Mr. Trump, I am turning to you. You are the final arbiter and I await your decision.”

The video was quickly removed from Twitter (now X), but Grant claimed the damage had already been done. In September, Judge John G. Koeltl described the video as ” wholesale copying music to accompany political campaign advertising.”

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