JMSN, “Love Me” Artist, Demands White House Stop Using His Music in Its Political Ads

Cease-and-desist letter demands immediate takedown of campaign-style ad; notes it violates The Lanham Act, a statute that governs trademark law and is intended to prevent consumer confusion

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Attorneys for Christian Berishaj, who performs as JMSN, last night sent a cease-and-desist letter to White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles demanding the Trump administration immediately stop using JMSN’s song “Love Me” in a television ad that has raised legal questions about the use of taxpayer funds for campaign-style political advertising. JMSN is represented by Democracy Defenders Action and Ballard Spahr LLP.

The letter states the administration used “Love Me” without JMSN’s permission and without proper licenses or other authorization. JMSN owns the rights to the song. In an Instagram post denouncing the Trump administration’s “The Country He Loves” ad, JMSN said he “would never authorize [his] music to be used for ANY political agenda or campaign.”

“Thus, the use of the song in this context, as part of an overtly partisan, political advertisement, is particularly damaging, as it could cause others to call into question JMSN’s artistic independence and integrity,” the letter states.

Further, the letter argues the unauthorized use violates the Lanham Act by falsely suggesting JMSN endorses or is affiliated with the Trump administration. The letter demands the Trump administration:

• Immediately stop using “Love Me” or any other JMSN intellectual property in the currently running ad or any other advertising, broadcast, or promotional material;
• Withdraw the advertisement from all scheduled airings and instruct every network, station, cable or satellite provider, streaming service, and media buyer carrying it to stop airing it;
• Remove all online copies of the advertisement and any other videos or posts containing the song; and
• Provide a written accounting of every airing and online posting, including the date, time, network or station, market, program, and total media spend.

The full cease-and-desist letter is available here.

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