Legendary musician Eddy Grant has secured a significant legal victory against Donald Trump in a copyright infringement case that began in 2020. District Court Judge John G. Koeltl ruled Trump liable for using Grant's 1982 hit "Electric Avenue" without permission in a campaign video.

The dispute centered on an animated video posted by Trump's campaign on Twitter, which featured "Electric Avenue" playing in the background while mocking then-presidential candidate Joe Biden. The video garnered millions of views and approximately 100,000 retweets before removal.

Trump's legal team attempted to defend the usage under fair use doctrine, claiming:

• The video was political commentary, not a campaign advertisement
• The song was "contextually transformed" in the clip
• Grant didn't own the copyright

Judge Koeltl rejected these arguments, describing the video as a "wholesale copying of music to accompany a political campaign ad." Grant originally sought $300,000 in damages plus legal fees, with the final amount potentially being decided by a jury.

This case adds to a growing list of musicians who have taken legal action against Trump for unauthorized music use in political campaigns, including the Rolling Stones, Celine Dion, and Jack White. Grant, known for his socially conscious music, stated the unauthorized use caused him "considerable emotional distress" and described it as "wicked" when used to amplify "derogatory political rhetoric."

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