Neil Young files $10 million lawsuit over Trump campaign's use of "Rockin' in the Free World"
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Neil Young has sued the Trump 47 Committee in Virginia federal court, alleging copyright infringement and claiming the song's use harms his reputation.
Neil Young's legal team filed a $10 million lawsuit on Monday in a Virginia federal court against the Trump 47 Committee, a joint fundraising entity for President Donald J. Trump. The complaint alleges that the campaign repeatedly used Young's song "Rockin' in the Free World" at events, including an October rally in Ohio, without permission, constituting copyright infringement. Young's attorneys argue that the unauthorized use damages the artist's reputation and brand by implying his support for the president.
The filing describes the song as an anthem that contrasts political rhetoric with the hardships faced by disadvantaged Americans and states that its message is opposite to President Donald J. Trump's positions. The lawsuit also references a prior 2020 case in which Young sued over the same song and another track, which was settled shortly after filing.
The White House directed inquiries to the Republican National Committee, and neither the RNC nor a spokesperson for the Trump 47 Committee responded to requests for comment.
The case adds to a growing list of musicians objecting to the use of their music at political events, including recent complaints from artists Kesha and Olivia Rodrigo about unauthorized usage by the White House and the Trump campaign, respectively.