Donald Trump loses Electric Avenue legal battle with Eddie Grant

Former US President Donald Trump has been found liable to pay damages to London singer and songwriter Eddie Grant for using his song Electric Avenue without permission.

It took more than four years for Mr Grant, 76, to sue the Republican presidential candidate in US court this year, using a 40-second clip of the song in his 2020 campaign video.

The video was viewed 13.7 million times before Twitter, now known as X, took it down.

A federal judge in Manhattan ruled that Mr. Trump infringed Mr. Grant's copyright for his 1983 hit and is now liable for damages as well as paying the singer's legal fees.

Mr Grant's battle with the former president began in August 2020, before his election to the White House, when the songwriter's adviser, Wallace EJ Collins, issued a cease and desist letter to Donald Trump's campaign team.

On Friday, Judge John G. Koeltl rejected arguments by Mr. Trump's lawyers that the Twitter video was protected under copyright's fair use doctrine, which allows use of protected works under certain circumstances.

Brian D. Kaplan, Mr. Grant's attorney, said Business Insider: “As a firm believer in artists' rights and ability to control their creative output, Mr. Grant believes this decision will help others in their fight against the unauthorized use of sound recordings and musical compositions.

“Politicians are not above the law and the courts have confirmed that.”

Earlier this month A US judge has ordered the Trump campaign to stop using the song Hold On, I'm Coming at its rallies.In response to a lawsuit by the family of the song's co-writer, Isaac Hayes.

Dozens of other artists have objected to the use of their songs at Trump rallies in recent months, including Abba, Foo Fighters, Celine Dion and Johnny Marr.

Electric Avenue takes its name from Brixton's South London Road, the capital's first market street to be lit by electricity. It is still part of Brixton Market today.

It inspired the title of Mr Grant's song, written in response to the 1981 Brixton riots, which reached number two in both the UK and US charts.

Mr Trump's team has been contacted for comment on the Electric Avenue court case.