Will Van Halen Be Suing Trump Next?

[toobfreak]

Politicians should be barred from playing music. If I were an artist I'd surely sue.

Well, I have had intellectual property stolen from me so maybe this is a bigger issue to me than most people.

 

[Missouri_Mike]

Good question. It may have never been legally trademarked but it remains a trademark symbol of the band regardless. When I saw it in the video above, I immediately recognized what it was. It may still be owned by the graphic studio that originally created it.

Thing is, it is actually pretty good whoever thought to convert it to a Trump / Vance yard sign!

Maybe Trump should start playing VH tunes at his rallies.

Kamies crying?

 

[Blaster]

I was watching a video here the other day of either Trump at a rally or something about Trump posted by Road Runner and at the start of the video in the corner of the screen, this new Trump/Vance logo caught my attention:

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And I thought: Gee! That looks kind of familiar! So I checked, and a very similar design was on the cover of the first two of Van Halen's albums plus an anthology album:


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So I have to wonder, is this just a coincidence? Did Trump pay royalties or licensing fees to VH? Or has some graphic artist or the Trump campaign rip off the band?

Will they be suing Trump next? I mean, that design is Van Halen's trademark logo design used on several of their albums!

It's just a coincidence.

 

[Missouri_Mike]

Well, I have no doubt that they would win in court and could order Tatum to "cease and desist" use of the logo if they really wanted to. And if not VH, then sued by the graphics designer who actually created it. But I suspect you may be right that in their 70s, they might not care but Eddie has a son in his 30s that has ties to the band that might be very possessive of his father's intellectual property.

He may not be too happy with democrats after paying inheritance taxes.

 

[Leo123]

I did not say that. But if I had nothing better to do, I might be interested to call them and ask if they have permission or gave any thought to being sued over it. I mean, look how many artists have already ragged about Trump playing their music or something threatening to sue if he did not stop!

Ragging about someone playing your tune shouldn't be relevant if the user PAID royalties. Not sure about the details of that in Trump's case however. Also, copyright laws do not prohibit copyrighting a song with the same title as another song but different lyrics and melody.

Frankly, at this stage of my 'musical career' I would be happy if any popular artist played one of my tunes, copyrighted or not. LOL

 

[toobfreak]

If Van Halen has proof of date of creation

The manager of the band (or record label) would know that and Eddie Van Halen still has a son around who probably has interest in the intellectual property of his father's band as at some point, he even played with VH. A lot of artists are intensely protective of their stuff.

 

[initforme]

Make theses wealthy candidates from both parties pay a couple hundred million to play music.

 

[toobfreak]

It's just a coincidence.

Bull. It is being marketed as Trump The Rocker. Too similar to be a coincidence.

 

[Missouri_Mike]

Make theses wealthy candidates from both parties pay a couple hundred million to play music.

It never works out for bands that do that. It’s better to let it go and keep your politics to yourself. Maybe someone will download your song if they like it.

 

[Leo123]

The manager of the band (or record label) would know that and Eddie Van Halen still has a son around who probably has interest in the intellectual property of his father's band as at some point, he even played with VH. A lot of artists are intensely protective of their stuff.

I has to be certified somehow, not just word of mouth. Some kind of official citation in writing would be required. However, they could take it to court I suppose.

 

[Leo123]

Make theses wealthy candidates from both parties pay a couple hundred million to play music.

That would be up to BMI or ASCAP the entities that track copyrighted songs and make sure the artist gets a royalty. Royalties aren't much though, unless you have millions of sales. I got a few pennies for something I had copyrighted because the number of sales was so low. I just considered it good that folks were willing to pay anything for my original stuff.

 

[initforme]

It never works out for bands that do that. It’s better to let it go and keep your politics to yourself. Maybe someone will download your song if they like it.

I see your point but politicians running for office are not entitled to anyone's music. They just aren't any more important than your average drug addiction. Fact.

 

[Leo123]

Bull. It is being marketed as Trump The Rocker. Too similar to be a coincidence.

Yeah it does look like a ripoff.

 

[toobfreak]

Here, I clipped off the Trump Vance header and flipped it around. Now compare the two and tell me this wasn't ripped off from Van Halen:

 

[initforme]

The proper thing is to simply pay willingly.

 

[Leo123]

Here, I clipped off the Trump Vance header and flipped it around. Now compare the two and tell me this wasn't ripped off from Van Halen:

View attachment 1027673

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Yes, it does look like a ripoff but not a direct copy. Whether or not it is actionable would have to be decided by law.

 

[Leo123]

The proper thing is to simply pay willingly.

Only if you are infringing on a copyright. If there is no copyright, you can use the material all you want or even copy it and copyright it yourself.

 

[initforme]

How about prohibiting politicians running for office from playing any music?

 

[Leo123]

How about prohibiting politicians running for office from playing any music?

Why?

 

[initforme]

Why?

It's unnecessary. And they're politicians. Zero right to have music.