Donald Trump Campaign Threatened with Copyright Action

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has been threatened by Aerosmith in relation to its song 'Dream On', which Trump has used at campaign events, apparently without permission.

Sky News has reported that attorneys instructed by Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler wrote formally to the Trump campaign stating the use of the song gives a 'false impression' that Tyler endorses the Trump campaign. This incidence is reportedly the third time the Trump campaign has been pulled up for using songs without permission, following previous exchanges with R.E.M and Neil Young.

Attorneys reportedly state in their cease and desist letters to the Trump campaign that those letters are not politically motivated.

The legal issue at hand is relatively simple; where copyright subsists - and this is sufficient in the UK as there is no requirement of registration, unlike in the USA – various acts centered around, without permission of the copyright owner, copying or making a copy available to the public and including playing a copyright work in public, will constitute primary infringement of copyright. A proprietor of copyright who's rights have been infringed can benefit from the remedies set out in chapter VI of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Remedies may include injunctions, seizure, delivery up or forfeiture of infringing articles, damages or an account of profits.