This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.
For the last few election cycles, the joke has been that the next presidential campaign begins as soon as the winner takes office, but now there’s evidence that the 2020 campaign began even before that.
Donald Trump was inaugurated on Jan. 20, but two days before that Donald J. Trump for President Inc. filed an application with the Patent and Trademark Office to register the phrase “Keep America Great!” as a trademark for a series of goods and services (application No. 87305582).
There are risks to filing so early. To get a registration, an applicant has to show proof of use in commerce.
“He better hope the marks don’t go through too quickly or he might find himself at the end of allowable extensions to file Statements of Use before he makes America great again!,” Lawrence R. Robins of Sullivan & Worcester LLP, Boston, told Bloomberg BNA in an e-mail message.
If things go quickly, Robins said, the Trump campaign might get a notice of allowance as soon as May or June 2017.
An applicant must file a statement of use within six months of the PTO's notice of allowance, but can file for extensions so long as its use in commerce and its statement of use happens within 36 months. That should give the campaign enough time to start using the slogan in the primary season.
The Trump campaign already has one federal trademark registration for “Make America Great Again” (registration No. 5020556 issued Aug. 16, 2016) on a similar range of goods and services.
There are also at least three more pending applications for the 2016 campaign slogan, but they seem to cover some of the same goods and services that the existing registration already covers, so they’re unlikely to go forward.
All Bloomberg BNA treatises are available on standing order, which ensures you will always receive the most current edition of the book or supplement of the title you have ordered from Bloomberg BNA’s book division. As soon as a new supplement or edition is published (usually annually) for a title you’ve previously purchased and requested to be placed on standing order, we’ll ship it to you to review for 30 days without any obligation. During this period, you can either (a) honor the invoice and receive a 5% discount (in addition to any other discounts you may qualify for) off the then-current price of the update, plus shipping and handling or (b) return the book(s), in which case, your invoice will be cancelled upon receipt of the book(s). Call us for a prepaid UPS label for your return. It’s as simple and easy as that. Most importantly, standing orders mean you will never have to worry about the timeliness of the information you’re relying on. And, you may discontinue standing orders at any time by contacting us at 1.800.960.1220 or by sending an email to books@bna.com.
Put me on standing order at a 5% discount off list price of all future updates, in addition to any other discounts I may quality for. (Returnable within 30 days.)
Notify me when updates are available (No standing order will be created).
This Bloomberg BNA report is available on standing order, which ensures you will all receive the latest edition. This report is updated annually and we will send you the latest edition once it has been published. By signing up for standing order you will never have to worry about the timeliness of the information you need. And, you may discontinue standing orders at any time by contacting us at 1.800.372.1033, option 5, or by sending us an email to research@bna.com.
Put me on standing order
Notify me when new releases are available (no standing order will be created)