The ongoing public drama between Neil Young and Donald Trump continues, as the rock guitarist revealed on Tuesday that he plans to sue the Trump 2020 re-election campaign for alleged copyright infringement through a complaint filed in the Southern District of New York.
Similar to the estates of Tom Petty and Prince, Young has not been cool with the President using his music without authorization at his rallies. The last straw for Young came following the President’s June 2020 rally in Tulsa, OK where “Rockin’ in the Free World” and “Devil’s Sidewalk” were both given airtime in the arena.
Young on Tuesday shared an unsigned copy of his complaint to his Neil Young Archives website, which reads, “Plaintiff [Young] in good conscience cannot allow his music to be used as a ‘theme song’ for a divisive, un-American campaign of ignorance and hate.”
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The document also states, “Plaintiff is entitled to an award of statutory damages in the maximum amount allowed for willful copyright infringement,” which later details to be “Not more than $150,000 nor less than $750 per infringement.” Read the entire document here.
Young recently became a United States citizen which entitles Young to a vote in the upcoming Presidential election. Initially, the famous rocker’s use of cannabis threatened to bar him from attaining dual citizenship.