Election season has opened a branded merchandise floodgate as campaigns, parties and political organizations turn to promotional products to get out their messages and raise candidates’ profiles. Groups outside the process are also producing products to comment on or influence the election’s direction and discourse. All of these rely on trademarked names, logos and phrases, and the competitive campaign environment shines a light on how influential these trademarks can be.
Republican primary candidate Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” hats have been one of the most recognizable promotional products this year, but comedian John Oliver, host of HBO’s Last Week Tonight, has made an impression with the trademarked “Drumpf.” Trump has a trademark on his own name, and has extended it to products like “Trump Steaks” and “Success by Trump” cologne.
Drumpf, Oliver says, is Trump’s ancestral name and the website donaldjdrumpf.com is having trouble keeping its “Make Donald Drumpf Again” hats in stock.
The Press of Atlantic City’s “Trump vs. John Oliver’s Drumpf Campaign” highlights what makes a trademark during the election season.
