In a surprising twist during a copyright dispute involving *Electric Avenue*, the 1983 hit by Eddy Grant, former President Donald Trump’s legal team made unexpected references to music icons Bob Dylan and Taylor Swif. The case centers around the alleged unauthorized use of *Electric Avenue* in a campaign video promoting Trump, which featured a remix of the song without permission.
Trump’s attorneys sought to draw parallels to other music copyright cases involving Dylan and Swift to argue that artistic works are often used in transformative ways, particularly in political contexts. They referenced Bob Dylan’s folk protest songs and Taylor Swift’s re-recording battles to highlight the evolving nature of music usage and ownership, claiming Trump’s use was a form of political expression.
However, the judge appeared unconvinced by these comparisons. Reports from inside the courtroom suggest that the judge remained skeptical, pointing out that the use of *Electric Avenue* seemed more like straightforward infringement than a transformative work protected under fair use laws. The skepticism signals that Trump’s legal team may face an uphill battle in this case, as they struggle to argue that the campaign video was a legitimate political use of the track.
The outcome of the case could have broader implications for copyright in political advertising, especially when it comes to the use of music without permission.
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