Neil Young performs as part of his historic double bill with Bob Dylan at Hyde Park on July 12, 2019 in London, England.
Dave J. Hogan | Getty Images
Legendary musician Neil Young has filed a $10 million lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s campaign committee for copyright infringement by playing Young’s song “Rockin’ in the Free World” shortly before the president took the stage to speak at an Oct. 12 rally in Youngstown, Ohio.
Young’s lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Richmond, Virginia, alleges that the Trump 47 Committee, without the musicians’ permission, “had the song played numerous times at other rallies aimed at encouraging Republican voting in the upcoming midterm elections.”
The lawsuit, filed Monday, says that Trump was “personally aware that a license was required to perform this song at his rallies,” but that Young “has not and will not grant the necessary license.”
In 2020, Young, 80, sued another Trump-founded corporation, Donald J. Trump for President, Inc., in federal court in Manhattan for copyright infringement of “Rockin’ in the Free World” and another song written by Young, “Devil’s Sidewalk,” for allegedly playing it at a campaign rally without permission.
In the first lawsuit, Mr. Trump’s company “did not defend itself, settled immediately upon service, and promised never to use ‘Rockin’ in the Free World’ again without Mr. Young’s license and permission,” the new suit says.
CNBC has reached out to the Trump 47 Committee and Young’s attorney for comment on the lawsuit.
When asked for comment, the White House referred CNBC to the Republican National Committee, which did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
Born in Canada, Young is a naturalized U.S. citizen. He has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. in 1995 as a solo artist and in 1997 as a member of Buffalo Springfield. Young was also a member of the folk-rock supergroup Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
Young released Rockin’ in the Free World in 1989.
His lawsuit describes the song as a “fiery anthem that contrasts the empty promises of American political rhetoric with the harsh realities faced by the poor, homeless, and forgotten.”
While the lyrics include depictions of mothers abandoning their babies, addiction and “the trash that piles up in the shadow of prosperity,” the repeated chorus conveys a savage irony and celebrates a freedom clearly not shared by everyone, the lawsuit says.
“Simply put, this song is the antithesis of everything Donald J. Trump stands for,” the complaint states.
In addition to the Trump 47 Committee, the lawsuit lists five other defendants, identified by the pseudonym “Doe,” who believe they are responsible for infringing Young’s copyrights.
The Oct. 12 Trump rally mentioned in the lawsuit was also the scene of an incident that has drawn the attention of local law enforcement. Video from the rally shows several protesters attacking and appearing to beat Blake Miley, a woman who wore a shirt with the message “Release the Epstein File” and repeatedly called President Trump a “fascist.”
Mahoning County, Ohio Sheriff Jerry Green is reportedly investigating three people in connection with the incident.
