China approves dozens of Trump trademarks after decade battle
As many as 38 brands linked to Donald Trump have been approved by the Chinese government, according to documents from the state trademark office. The registered trademarks will give the 45th US President as well as his family legal protection if they develop the Trump brand in China.
The applications, filed by Donald Trump or the Trump Organization last April, cover a broad range of businesses, including hotels and bars, golf clubs, spa services, financial and advertising firms, government records show.
Most of the trademarks feature variations on the name Donald Trump in English and Chinese.
The trademarks approved on February 27 and March 6 will be formally registered in late May and early June, if not challenged during a 90-day period.
The Trump Organization had been struggling for its intellectual property rights in China for over a decade, according to Alan Garten, general counsel for the group.
"The latest registrations are a natural result of those longstanding, diligent efforts and any suggestion to the contrary demonstrates a complete disregard of the facts as well as a lack of understanding of international trademark law," he said in a statement.
The approval has raised concerns among US politicians and lawyers who see a potential conflict between Donald Trump’s political activity and the extensive business affairs of his family.
Ivanka #Trump becomes hot commodity in #Chinahttps://t.co/7VNekUlIRGpic.twitter.com/XY7LwRO8LY
— RT (@RT_com) February 21, 2017
Democratic Senator Ben Cardin, the ranking member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called for formal briefings about the Chinese trademark approvals and on "the potential constitutional dangers that they present."
"This is an astonishing development. It's clear to me that officials in Beijing have come to appreciate the potential return on investments for China in having a positive, personal business relationship with the President of the United States, who has not taken appropriate and transparent steps to completely sever his relationship with the corporation that bears his name," he said in a written statement.
