Stanford marching band sends Trump 'cease-and-desist' order

Stanford University’s marching band released a “cease-and-desist” letter to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump last week for using the Free song “All Right Now,” to introduce his running mate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence at the Republican National Convention.

The Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band tweeted “we recently found out that @realDonaldTrump used ‘All Right Now’ at an event. So here’s our Cease and Desist letter.”

As The Daily Stanford reports, the “cease-and-desist” letter, posted on Thursday night argues that Trump does not have the right to use the 1972 song because it is used as the band’s fight song.

“Your use of the song ‘All Right Now’ as background music during the official introduction of your Vice Presidential pick is probably a violation of Free’s common law trademark rights, common law service mark rights, and trade name rights, and this letter constitutes a demand that you cease and desist any and all use of the song ‘All Right Now’ in any campaign-related events, functions, or shindigs,” the letter states.

In the letter, the band acknowledged the lack of validity in regards to their claim.

“We don’t have any legal claim over the song,” the letter reads. “However, we do want to stake a philosophical claim over it. ARN, to us at least, is about togetherness.” 

The band’s letter has been retweeted over 600 times and has been favorited over 700 times. Trump, however, has yet to respond to the band's’ letter.

The band’s “philosophical claim” over the 1972 song, was adopted after a former professor of music at Stanford rearranged the song. According to the band, Trumps’ use of the song could potentially “tarnish” the song’s spirit.

“Our concern, Don (we’re calling you Don, hope that’s cool), is that your divisive rhetoric will tarnish the spirit of that song and all it stands for,” the letter states.

Band members believe that Trump’s use of the song deviates from the purpose of the song, which they believe is to unite people together.

“From the line ‘maybe we can see things the same,’ to the unity felt in the moment when students, alumni, and fans all jump at the same time, the reason we play ARN is to bring people together, to put aside differences, and to unite everyone… in mirth and laughter.”

The band humorously attempts to make a case that the 1972 song is not the best choice for Trumps’ constituents.

“Also, for the record — the lyrics to ARN are about a dude trying to hook up with a meter maid,” the letter says. “Regardless of the upbeat and encouraging nature of the chorus, we don’t think that’s a message that the 2016 Republican Party really wants to stand behind.”

Campus Reform reached out to Stanford’s marching band for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.

Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @morgan_walker95