I read (Wiki) that Pettys publisher sent Bush the letter. The rights might be percentages, and would be funny if one party would want it used while another one didnt. Lol

Snowflakes.

I would say the Petty family and heirs are making the money off the song.The Trump rally is promoting the song for free....it is a win win for both sides!

Money isn't everything. The family and band alumni are putting their dignity first.

If the family owns the rights, the family gets to make the call.

This is not some left wing conspiracy. At its basic level it is about property rights and the free market. Somebody owns the song rights and if Trump wants to use the song, he can pay to license it.

I miss the Republican party caring about property rights and free markets.

Some stupid song is the least of this countries problems. It’s literally embarrassing, you turn on the news and you’d think the United States was some third world country! Well done liberal governors!

I believe music copyright was changed in 1989 so the song is covered for the life of the singer plus 70 years.
Seems a bit much but if it's so, the President should just have a catchy tune of his own written.

Osky

Kind of like that Chaz thing your saying?

Wait what?
Have you already forgotten the double standard liberals insist upon?

So if they refuse to let him buy the rights is that like the baker not selling a cake thing?

So if I buy a CD and have friends over for a party, I can't play it unless I get the ok from the Petty's?

Confusing.

Its not illegal to copy a patented product. You just can not sell the copy or use it to make money. i doubt the Petty family can stop him from playing the song. The royalties paid by radio stations is because they are a for profit business. Playing the song gets people to tune in. People tuning in is why the station can charge for advertising. Trump does not gain financially (theoretically) by playing songs at a rally. The lawyers know that (including James) It is all a publicity stunt to discredit Trump. Something else that is perfectly legal.

Well, James? Is it illegal for Trump to use the song?

They'll probably argue his campaign is making money off it in the form of contributions.

After all the Blabbering about rights on here Trump can buy the record or the download and play it anywhere just as well as anybody

Trump could go and find someone who'd be happy to let him play their music. Right? Can't be that hard to generate a list of potential songs and ask around. The issue over campaign music isn't a new thing.

When they're starting out, these musicians play on the street corners and in the bars for free, begging anybody to listen to them. Then when they become millionaires they're butthurt when anyone listens to their music unless they get paid. Weird. And oh so humble.

I knew Tom Petty when I lived in Florida. I met him through a friend that had grown up with Petty in I think Gainesville, Florida. They were both dope users and about have out of their minds most of the time. As a matter of fact, my friend ended up in the pen for his drugs.

Garry-

I was in grade school in the 1960's.

It depends on what you mean by illegal. Trump won't go to jail for it, but may owe damages to the Petty family.

Copyright includes the right to display or broadcast the work. (You can listen to a CD you bought, but you can't broadcast it without permission.) The campaign certainly broadcast the song.

But that's not the end of the story. The fair use doctrine allows limited use of a copyrighted work for some purposes. Whether Trump might owe damages for infringement depends on various factors. For example, if Trump's purpose were educational, and he didn't play the entire song, it may be fair use. The fact the campaign was using the song for political gain mitigates against Trump.

Impossible to predict if it was fair use without more information.

Jim