Jack White and The White Stripes have officially dropped their lawsuit against Donald Trump for using their iconic anthem, "Seven Nation Army," in a campaign video. Initially filed in August, the lawsuit accused Trump’s re-election campaign of copyright infringement and decried the unauthorized use of their song.
At the heart of the issue lies BMI’s political entities license, which grants blanket permission for campaigns to use certain tracks without needing individual artist consent. This license likely undercut White’s legal argument, forcing him to abandon the case—though the dismissal was filed “without prejudice,” leaving the door open for a future refiling.
Jack White had framed the lawsuit as a stand against Trump’s divisive politics, calling him a "fascist" and labeling his policies harmful. However, the lawsuit’s withdrawal suggests a flawed legal strategy. While White remains outspoken, the move to dismiss the case signals that BMI’s licensing provisions may have rendered his claims moot.
This legal setback underscores a larger tension between artists and political campaigns over music use. Though some musicians take a stand against unauthorized usage, BMI’s licenses complicate such efforts, often leaving artists with little recourse. Perhaps Jack White should consider suing BMI since they are most likely the ones who enabled the Trump campaign to use his music?
