Iconic Guitar Maker Fender Tries to Stop Trump Using Their Song

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, the 78-year-old guitar company, has filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump for using their copyrighted song, “We’re American Band,” at his campaign rallies. The suit alleges that Trump’s campaign has “willfully and intentionally” infringed on Fender’s copyright, seeking unspecified damages and an injunction to stop the use of the song.

2. What Happened? The Key Details You Need to Know

Fender’s complaint, filed on Thursday in federal court in California, claims that the Trump campaign has been using “We’re an American Band” at rallies without a license. The lawsuit alleges that the campaign was aware of Fender’s copyright and “knowingly and intentionally” used the song without permission.

3. Why Does This Matter? The Bigger Picture

This lawsuit is the latest in a series of legal challenges to Trump’s use of copyrighted material. In recent months, other artists, including the Rolling Stones and Neil Young, have filed lawsuits against Trump for using their songs without permission.

4. Voices from the Scene – What Are People Saying?

"We are proud of the fact that our music has been used by so many artists and organizations over the years, but we must also protect our copyrights," said Andy Mooney, Fender CEO.

"We hope that this lawsuit will send a message that artists' rights must be respected," said Paul Smith, Fender's general counsel.

5. What’s Next? Future Implications and Takeaways

The outcome of this lawsuit will be closely watched by other artists and copyright holders. If Fender is successful, it could set a precedent for other artists to take legal action against Trump for using their copyrighted material.

The lawsuit also raises questions about the limits of free speech and the rights of artists to control how their work is used.

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