Dr. Dre successfully blocked Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green from using his music in any context related to her political career after she used his 1999 hit Still Dre for the soundtrack of a promotional video.
In about two minutes videoPosted on Jan. 9 with the caption, “It’s time to start…and they can’t stop what’s coming,” the far-right Georgia lawmaker walks out of his office in slow motion to the familiar first notes of the song featuring Snoop Dogg;
Billboard reports that Green’s attorneys have formally accepted a cease and desist letter sent by the musician’s attorney Howard E. King on Jan. 9, but have not admitted any wrongdoing.
“On behalf of Congressman Green, please be advised that no further use of Mr. Young’s copyright will be made through a political committee or social media controlled by him,” the statement read.
Green’s attorneys said their response should not be construed as “an admission of any fact or a waiver of any rights or defenses” in anticipation of the possibility that Dre could sue Green.
King’s original letter accused Greene of “illegal exploitation [Still Dre] to promote through various social media [her] divisive and hateful political agenda.”
It continues. “United States copyright law says a lot, but one of the things it says is that you can’t use someone else’s song for your political campaign unless you get permission from the song’s copyright owner. , a step you couldn’t make.”
On January 10, Dre told TMZ: “I don’t license my music to politicians, especially someone as divisive and hateful as this one.”
Green, a staunch Trump ally who has pushed a number of anti-Semitic, white supremacy and far-right conspiracy theories, was first elected to Congress in 2020. In line with his views, the video begins with the following note: “There are two genders. Male and female!”
The video was almost immediately removed from Twitter in response to a report from the copyright holder.
Green’s initial response to his firing, posted on Twitter and shared with TMZ, said: “While I appreciate striking a creative chord, I will never play your words of violence against women and police officers, nor your glorification of thuggery and drugs. »
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