thedailysheeple.com / By M. Frank Drover / February 10th, 2013
Retired Congressman Ron Paul is no longer a public figure and, now that he’s back in the free market, has filed a complaint with the World Intellectual Property Organization, an agency of the United Nations, against web sites using his name to promote goods, services and newsletters.
According to the complaint, the Libertarian minded former Congressman claims that certain websites named in the filing (RonPaul.com and RonPaul.org) are using his trademarks for the purpose of profit, and not for the dissemination of information deemed as “fair use”:
The words “Ron Paul” have become synonymous with Dr. Paul’s political writings and discourse.
Ron Paul is the owner of the RON PAUL U.S. trademark. Ron Paul has acquired rights in the mark by virtue of its use Within the United States, including a large volume of sales of Dr. Pauls books. The RON PAUL mark has achieved a secondary meaning associated with Ron Paul sufficient to establish common law trademark rights. RON PAUL has long been associated with Dr. Pauls books, articles, public appearances, and political commentary.
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Respondents clearly are using RonPaul.com and RonPaul.org commercially.
When a respondent profits from a domain name, it is not making legitimate noncommercial or fair use of the domain name.
