Copyright - Illegal Use: German Band Alphaville Fights Back Against Donald Trump

The American president used a song by the synth-pop band in an AI-generated video. Alphaville now wants to prohibit Trump from using their hit "Forever Young."

The German pop band Alphaville is taking legal action against US President Donald Trump because he used their classic song "Forever Young" without permission in an AI-generated video. Trump had posted the clip on his platform "TruthSocial."

In a statement on Instagram, the band made it clear that they do not share Trump's political views in any way. They will ensure that the post is removed from the internet immediately, Alphaville stated. Furthermore, the band explicitly prohibits any further use of their music by the US Republicans and their president. The statement was signed "Kind regards from old Europe" and the name of singer Marian Gold. Alphaville: From Münster Synth-Pop to International Fame.

This case joins a growing number of disputes between musicians and political actors who use other people's songs for their own purposes without permission. Particularly contentious in this case is the use of AI-generated video footage set to the song – a combination that raises further copyright issues.

Alphaville was founded in Münster in the early 1980s and, with hits like "Forever Young" and "Big in Japan," is one of Germany's most famous pop exports. The band is still musically active today. "Forever Young," released in 1984, is one of the most played songs of the synth-pop era and enjoys cult status worldwide.

Source: www.berliner-zeitung.de/news/deutsche-band-alphaville-wehrt-sich-gegen-songnutzung-durch-trump-li.10030786

Alphaville - Forever Young