The 1980s hit song Eye of the Tiger's co-writer Frank Sullivan, has filed a federal lawsuit against Mike Huckabee's (Former Governor of Arkansas) presidential campaign, for playing the track at a rally for the county clerk - Kim Davis. Kim Davis gained international attention after she refused to sign gay marriage licenses.
Frank Sullivan, the guitarist and songwriter who is best known for being a member of the band Survivor, sued Mike Huckabee (candidate for U.S. president in the 2016 election) for the unauthorized public utilization of the Eye of the Tiger song. The lawsuit of Frank Sullivan that was filed on Wednesday, claims that the campaign infringed on the copyright of Frank Sullivan, which the co-writer holds through his publishing company, Rude Music.
Frank Sullivan, who has been the only constant member of the band since its formation in 1977, filed the suit in federal court in Illinois (where the musician lives). He asked that the campaign of Mike Huckabee will be prohibited from unauthorized utilization of the Eye of the Tiger song and asked a federal judge to determine what are the damages.
The Eye of the Tiger song was played as Mike Huckabee escorted Kim Davis out of the Carter County Detention Center, where Davis had spent six days behind bars in September for contempt of court.
Frank Sullivan, who wrote the track "Eye of the Tiger" with a Survivor band mate, who is the American musician and songwriter - Jim Peterik, also sued the American politician, author and political consultant - Newt Gingrich in 2012, for repeatedly using the Eye of the Tiger song at campaign events. But, the lawsuit filed by Frank Sullivan then was settled out of court.
"Eye of the Tiger" song was popularized as the theme song from the 1982 American film "Rocky III" that stars Sylvester Stallone, and was nominated for a Grammy. Billboard magazine ranked Eye of the Tiger No. 24 on its list of greatest Hot 100 songs of all time.
