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Trump and Trademark news Dec 2020
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) registers trademarks for countries in the European Union only. They have expressed the need for ‘genuine use’ of a trademark for the trademark to remain alive. This principal has been expressed with the trademarks registered by the Trump organization. The Trump Organization (a group of 500 business entities and Donald Trump as the principal owner) will loose exclusive rights to use the ‘Trump’ name associated with various goods and services. Namely, alcoholic drinks, clothing, footwear, furniture and ownership of golf courses. For alcoholic drinks Trump whiskey failed to show ‘genuine use.’ A trademark is renewable after 10 years. There is also a maintenance of the trademark which is required after 5 years showing that you have consecutively used your trademark for 5 years. EUIPO specifically stated that only 6 bottles of whiskey sold in the 5 year period was ‘very poor proof of genuine use.’ The Trump trademark was also on clothing which also was specified by EUIPO to have poor sales and therefore no ‘genuine use’ of the trademark.
Donald Trump is the owner of many golf courses in the United States and outside the United States. Donald Trump had trademarked his golf course with a coat of arms (see below) in Scotland, United Kingdom, but this was challenged by Anthee Sarl a Luxembourg company for not being used for a continuous period of 5 years. They also opposed his trademark based on ‘genuine use.’ EUIPO agreed and revoked the trademark on November 2020.

Donald Trump, coat of arms for his Scotland golf club
After the above decisions made by EUIPO a number of the Trumps Organization trademarks will be cancelled. It shows the importance of using your trademark once you successfully have it registered to prevent it being revoked and canceled.