Does Trump Get Royalties on Make America Great Again Hats
Need more proof Donald Trump is bringing his business savvy to the entrada trail? He has already trademarked his "Make America Great Over again" slogan.
Yep, Ronald Reagan may have said it first, but Trump is the one asserting his commercial rights to the phrase.
Trump applied for a trademark for "Brand America Great Once more" in November 2012 -- mere days afterwards the last presidential election.
Trademark applications typically take a long time to procedure. Trump only received the "Make America Great Over again" trademark in July of this yr.
Here's where it gets interesting: The trademark is specifically for "political action committee services." In other words, it doesn't say anything nigh hats, T-shirts, etc.
Ever since Trump started sporting his ruby-red lid in early August with "Make America Great Once again," it's become a hot seller online. And not only on Trump'south website.
Supporters can buy the hat -- in numerous different colors -- for $25 directly from Trump'due south entrada trade website. Or they tin can get a ripoff version from thousands of other sellers for as little as $4.99.
Related: Annihilation with Trump name is selling fast
Trump takes legal action against illegal sellers
Trump has had enough of the copycats. At present he's getting his lawyer involved.
I of his starting time targets is CafePress, a pop website where people can print T-shirts, coffee mugs and other garb. The company received a "cease and desist" letter from Trump's lawyer at the cease of September.
Trump's legal team fabricated it very clear there would be a lawsuit confronting CafePress unless the site stopped peddling "Make America Great Again" merchandise.
"This isn't well-nigh money. This is near protecting one's brand and trademark," Trump'south lawyer Alan Garten told CNNMoney.
CafePress hasn't issued an official response, but it's telling that there used to be hundreds, if non thousands, of items available on CafePress with Trump's motto. Searching the site now for that slogan returns aught with that verbal phrase.
Trump has repeatedly stressed that he's a billionaire who is self-funding his campaign and doesn't demand outsider'due south money. But he has also fabricated information technology clear that he knows how to build a brand. He's made a lot of coin licensing the Trump name on everything from hotels to ties.
Now he'southward prepare to do the aforementioned with "Make America Neat Once again."
Related: Donald Trump's economy vs. Jeb Bush-league'due south: Who wins
Trump applies for another trademark
To clear upwardly any confusion, Trump practical for another trademark on Baronial 13. This one spells out that the trademark covers bumper sticks, T-shirts, tank tops, campaign buttons, caps and hats, babe wear, blogs. The list goes on. It could take months, if not years, for that trademark to exist approved.
In the meantime, legal experts say Trump may still have a valid case against CafePress and other sellers.
Paul Callan, CNN's legal analyst and a former media police force professor, says Trump's lawyers tin probable build a solid case that America now associates the phrase "Make America Great Again" with Trump, similar to the way people associate "Just Do It" with Nike.
"In the public listen, [Trump] has a legitimate argument that the phrase has a commercial secondary meaning," says Callan.
Related: How many jobs has Donald Trump created?
There are nonetheless thousands of copycat hats and shirts
For now, Trump's lawyer says the campaign will "selectively" enforce trademark rights.
CafePress is hardly the only site with copycat Trump gear. In that location are over 200 items for sale with Trump'southward campaign slogan on Etsy, (ETSY) over 2,000 on Amazon (AMZN) and over 4,000 on eBay. (EBAY)
When asked for annotate, an Etsy spokeswoman said the visitor "takes intellectual property and copyright concerns very seriously" and that the site "removes items when nosotros have proper notice." Amazon and eBay did not reply to requests for comment.
Trump isn't the get-go to trademark entrada materials. Obama's campaign applied for trademarks for the rising dominicus logo, amid others.
In this election bicycle, Republican Ben Carson also sent a end and desist letter to CafePress for alleged violation of trademark and copyright.
The company issued a response to Carson: "To borrow from a slogan that is much used in this campaign, it doesn't take a brain surgeon to understand how baseless these claims are."
Source: https://money.cnn.com/2015/10/08/investing/donald-trump-make-america-great-again-trademark/
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