And finally… trumped

Frank Lindner sought to trademark the name “Trump” for various products, including beers, wines, and contraceptives. Trump’s representatives contested this, arguing that Lindner’s products were too similar to those sold at Trump Turnberry in Ayrshire and Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire.

The case was adjudicated by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in Spain. The EUIPO ruled that while Lindner could not register the Trump name for alcoholic drinks, he could proceed with the trademark for condoms as they were not among the products already bearing the Trump name at his resorts, and their nature, purpose, and distribution channels were sufficiently different from those of Trump’s goods.

The EUIPO’s decision said “the contested condoms are dissimilar to the opponent’s goods”, explaining that “their natures, purposes and methods of use are different. They do not coincide in their producers/providers and do not share the same distribution channels”.

The EUIPO added: “Furthermore, these goods are neither complementary nor in competition and they target different end users.”

This dispute has been ongoing since 8 December 2021 when Lindner first filed a trademark application for the name “Trump” with the EUIPO. 

He argued Mr Trump’s right to exclusive use of the trademark around Europe should be revoked on the basis the trademarks had not been put to genuine use for a five-year period.

In November 2023, the EUIPO found in favour of Mr Trump, saying “the application for revocation must be rejected as unfounded”.