Neil Young sues Trump committee for $10M for playing song at rally
CNBC • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Neil Young has filed a $10 million lawsuit against President Donald Trump's campaign committee, alleging unauthorized use of his song "Rockin' in the Free World" at an October 12 rally in Youngstown, Ohio, and other events aimed at boosting Republican votes in the mid-term elections.
- The lawsuit claims Trump was aware a license was required to play the song and that Young did not grant such permission, referencing a previous 2020 case where Trump's campaign settled after infringing on Young's copyrights.
- Young describes "Rockin' in the Free World" as a critical anthem highlighting social issues and states the song's message contradicts Trump's values, emphasizing that unauthorized use constitutes copyright infringement.
- The suit names the Trump 47 Committee and five unnamed defendants as responsible for the infringement, and legal representatives for both sides have yet to comment publicly.
- The October 12 rally also involved a separate violent incident where a woman was attacked after protesting Trump, prompting a local law enforcement investigation.
