U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is fighting a lot of legal battles in China over the use of his name in a wide range of products and services. In 2016, he filed 34 applications with the Trademark Office of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce.
The 34 brought to 126 the total applications Trump filed over the last decade. The applications seek to prevent Chinese firms from using his name for products such as lingerie, pet care products, golf clubs and computer software, The Washington Post reported.
Trump’s Fans
The reasons why Chinese entrepreneurs want to use the Trump name on their products and services vary, from being a follower of the real estate billionaire since his “The Apprentice” days, to liking the sound of his name. Some succeeded which explains why there are Trump paint, Trump toilet, Trump condom and Trump pesticide.
In 2006, a Chinese man Dong Wei got the trademark for Trump for use in his commercial, residential hotels and immovable property business. However, Trump filed an application and took 10 years to get the government to rule in his favor after the trademark bureau declared as invalid the one given to Dong Wei.
U.S. Election Helps Win Cases
Zhou Dandan, legal counsel of Trump in his China lawsuits, acknowledged that having won the presidency made Trump’s name a household name which played a role in his recent trademark battle victory. “Because of the election, Trump is widely known to the Chinese people,” Zhou explained.
“This meets the requirement of the law: that the duplicated name of a public figure as a trademark is not allowed, as it will create confusion to the public and be negative to the figure,” she added.
Besides being a cunning businessman, Trump is also eyeing opening hotels in China which explains why he is protecting the trademark “Trump.” According to Washington Post, Trump Hotels plan is confident of opening 20 to 30 luxury hotels in China, although he was previously quoted as saying he would not do new deals while president of the U.S.