Queen is Facing Legal Hurdles Trying to Stop Donald Trump From Using Their Music


According to a published report, the management for Queen described the band’s attempts to stop Donald Trump from using its music in social media campaigns as an “uphill battle.” Earlier this week, Trump’s campaign used their classic song “We Will Rock You” in a video on TikTok competitor Triller. The video has not yet been taken down.A spokesman for Queen told BBC News said it has “repeatedly taken issue with the Trump campaign,” adding that “the band itself has been quite outspoken on the subject.” This is not the first time Queen and Trump have clashed over his unauthorized use of the band’s music. Last October, the band filed a copyright infringement notice over the unauthorized use of “We Will Rock You” in a another Trump campaign video. The clip was eventually removed from Twitter “in response to a report from the copyright holder.” Queen also clashed with Trump four years ago on the campaign trail when then-Republican presidential hopeful Trump for using the band’s 1977 song “We Are The Champions” without permission.

 

When Trump took the stage at the Republican National Convention in July 2016, he emerged in front of a blinding backdrop of white lights as a lectern rose from the floor. All the while, “We Are The Champions” could be heard throughout the arena. The bands’ publishing company, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, later issued a statement disapproving of the song’s use.

 

Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Foo Fighters, the estate of Tom Petty, Neil Young and countless artists have mobilzed legal challenges against the president.