Neil Young sues Trump campaign again for playing Rockin’ in the Free World at rally
Neil Young has filed a $10m copyright lawsuit against the Trump 47 Committee, alleging it played his 1989 song “Rockin’ in the Free World” without permission at a rally in Ohio. The case matters because campaign events may need a public performance licence to play music, and Young says the song’s message conflicts with Donald Trump’s politics.
Young says the track was played before Trump spoke in Youngstown on 12 October, and that he would not have granted a licence. The lawsuit claims Trump knew a licence was required and alleges the song has been used at other rallies; Young also sued Trump’s campaign in 2020 over the same song and “Devil’s Sidewalk”, settling shortly afterwards.
In short
- Neil Young is seeking $10m over alleged unauthorised use of his song.
- The song played at a Trump rally in Ohio on 12 October.
- Young previously sued over campaign use of the same track.
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The case for
Young’s case rests on the principle that copyright owners should be able to control public use of their work and seek compensation when it is used without a required licence. If the campaign played the song without permission, and knew a licence was needed, a lawsuit is a legitimate way to enforce those rights; Young also has a reasonable interest in not having his music appear to endorse politics he opposes.
The case against
The campaign could argue that liability depends on the precise licensing arrangements and facts of the event, which the lawsuit’s allegations alone do not establish. It may also contest the damages sought or whether the reported use warrants them, while maintaining that political events should be able to use music covered by applicable public performance licences without implying the artist’s endorsement.
Explained simply
“Rockin’ in the Free World” is a song by Canadian-American musician Neil Young, released in 1989. Music played at public events can be covered by licences that allow venues or organisers to use songs, even when they do not own the recordings.
Donald Trump is a US politician who has run for president, and the Trump 47 Committee is a political campaign organisation linked to his 2024 bid. Young has previously taken legal action over campaign use of his music, making the dispute part of a wider question about how political campaigns use copyrighted songs.
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