Summary
This post examines Donald Trump’s legal action against a politically oriented website that used his trademarked name in its domain. The Trump Organization issued a cease and desist notice alleging cyber-piracy under the US Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act. The post discusses Trump’s broader strategy of acquiring numerous domain names as a protective measure against cybersquatting. Eric Trump supports this approach, arguing it is more effective than the UDRP process. The post concludes by noting the likelihood of continued aggressive legal actions by Trump’s team.
Background
The Donald Trump Organization issued a cease and desist notice to the operators of Stoptrump.us, a domain that sold t-shirts and merchandise bearing slogans such as “Donald Is Dumb,” “Stop Trump,” and “America Is Already Great.” The website described itself as a social enterprise and had been active in opposition to Trump’s positions on immigration from Mexico and Latin America during the 2015 United States presidential race.
The Cease and Desist Notice
The cease and desist notice, issued by the Donald Trump Organization’s legal team, accused the website of cyber-piracy under the United States Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act. The notice characterised the use of Trump’s name in the domain as a “blatant and unauthorized use of his trademark” and demanded that the Boston-based operators immediately cease using the domain name and transfer it to the organisation.
Trump’s Broader Domain Acquisition Strategy
The organization’s approach to domain names has been systematic. The organization acquires thousands of domain names annually, comprising various combinations of Trump’s registered trademarks. Domains incorporating the names of Trump’s children and grandchildren have also been registered as a precautionary measure. Eric Trump, son of the presidential candidate, described this strategy as a sound business approach to protecting the organisation’s intellectual property from cybersquatters. He expressed the view that the UDRP process established by ICANN is time-consuming and that a preemptive acquisition strategy is a more efficient remedy.
Wider Legal Activity
The aggressive posture of Trump’s legal team was not limited to domain name disputes. At the time, the organisation had also threatened legal action against a conservative Club for Growth over advertisements critical of the candidate. The developments illustrated a consistent strategy of using intellectual property and related legal instruments as tools in a broader commercial and political context.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information and does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult a qualified attorney before acting on any matter discussed here.