Eddy Grant has won a significant legal victory against Donald Trump in a copyright infringement case over the unauthorized use of his 1982 hit song "Electric Avenue" in a 2020 campaign video.

District Court Judge John G. Koeltl ruled Trump liable for monetary damages, rejecting all defense arguments. Grant initially sought $300,000 in damages plus legal fees when filing the lawsuit in 2020.

The dispute began when Trump's campaign posted an animated video on Twitter mocking Joe Biden, featuring "Electric Avenue" as background music. The video garnered millions of views and approximately 100,000 retweets before removal.

Trump's legal team attempted to claim fair use, arguing that:

• The video was political commentary, not a campaign advertisement
• The song was "contextually transformed" in the clip
• Grant didn't have copyright ownership

Judge Koeltl dismissed these arguments, describing the video as "wholesale copying of music to accompany a political campaign ad."

This case joins numerous other music-related lawsuits against Trump from artists including the Rolling Stones, Celine Dion, and Jack White. Grant, known for his socially conscious music, stated that using his song to amplify "derogatory political rhetoric" was "wicked" and caused him "considerable emotional distress."

The final damage amount may be determined by a jury, though this detail remains pending.

Related Articles

Previous Articles