Legendary musician Phil Collins is not pleased with Donald Trump using his music at his rallies and is now getting his legal team involved. On Monday, Collins’ legal team sent a cease and desist letter claiming that the president has been using his music without permission.
Trump has recently been playing “In the Air Tonight” at his rallies as a form of mockery to COVID-19.
“We wrote you on June 24, 2020 demanding that the Trump campaign cease infringing the musical copyright in the musical work ‘In the Air Tonight.’ Another copy of our June 24, 2020 letter is attached. Our previous letter also noted that the campaign’s use of the work constituted an implied and false endorsement of Mr. Trump. It also noted Mr. Collin’s express and unequivocal statement that he wants no affiliation whatsoever with The President or the Trump campaign.”
The letter stated, “We did not receive the courtesy of a response to our letter.”
Counsel continued, “We now have learned that the Trump campaign has continued its improper use of ‘In the Air Tonight.’ Most recently, the Trump campaign used that work during an Iowa campaign rally on October 14, 2020. That use was not only wholly unauthorized but, as various press articles have commented, particularly inappropriate since it was apparently intended as a satirical reference to Covid-19. That reference was made at a time when Iowa was suffering from an acceleration of Covid-19 infection. Mr. Collins does not condone the apparent trivialization of Covid-19. Moreover, Mr. Collins has serious concerns that the manner in which the Trump campaign has used ‘In the Air Tonight’ has caused, and will cause, damage to Mr. Collins’ reputation and popularity with the public.”
The letter stated, “Under the circumstances, we renew our demand for immediate assurances that the Trump campaign will permanently cease and desist from any further use of Mr. Collins’ name, performance and music at any future rallies or otherwise.”
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