Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Pete Hegseth published a short video on X (formerly Twitter) showcasing its expanded drone program. The clip, featuring Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signing a memo delivered via drone, drew immediate attention primarily because it was backed by Metallica’s iconic track “Enter Sandman,” used without licensing.
Within hours, Metallica’s legal team stepped in. A representative for the band confirmed they had not granted permission for the song to be used. Consequently, the Pentagon removed the video and re-posted it with the music completely stripped out .
The DoD issued a statement clarifying that X contacted their social media team about a copyright violation. In response, they “took down, corrected, and reuploaded” the content sans the music .
Why does this matter? Synchronization licensing is mandatory. Even government produced videos require proper licensing to use copyrighted music. While public performance licenses cover live events, they don’t apply to pre recorded online videos. Military or government entities must acquire synchronization licenses to pair visuals and music just like any private organization. Metallica isn’t new to enforcing their rights. The band has a reputation for defending its catalog whether through the Napster lawsuit in the early 2000s or their objections to having their music used in military interrogations. Their swift action against this video aligns with their longstanding legal stance.
The decision to underscore military power with a classic metal anthem raised eyebrows not just legally but thematically. Observers noted the irony of pairing aggressive drone rhetoric with a song about fear and nightmares. Comments from military forums and Reddit ranged from sharp critiques to sarcastic commentary about the tone deaf branding.
Although the video has been sanitized of its soundtrack, the incident highlights a recurring oversight: even well intentioned institutional messaging must respect copyright law. And in this case, Metallica served as a reminder that not even the Pentagon is above the rules.
What happened heres straightforward. A high profile example of copyright oversight, swiftly corrected by both the rights holders and the military. While it’s unlikely the incident will spur broader policy changes, it does reiterate a simple fact music rights matter, even when the stage is the digital battlefield.
