Former president Donald Trump applied for a trademark for his social media platform called Truth Social. He had started the platform after he was permanently banned from a popular social media site for breaking the platform’s rules and regulations. Josh Gerben, a trademark lawyer, recently posted on the same platform that the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) had refused Trump’s trademark application for his social media platform as it was similar to existing trademarked business entities.
The USPTO sad that there were already two companies that were using the Truth Social wording. They thought there would be what is called “likelihood of confusion” if the trademark was also given to Trump’s social media platform. It is possible that Trump will appeal the decision. This is not uncommon as initial refusals of trademarks happen and the company can probably overcome the hurdles placed in its way.
Getting an initial refusal from the USPTO is one among several other worries that have dodged the platform, since its initial rollout in October 2021. It faces both financial and technical woes and doesn’t really have the reach that Trump and others expected it have, despite Trump expecting his followers to follow him on a platform that was basically dedicated to him.
Earlier this month, Delaware based Digital World Acquisition Group (DWAC), the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) has been delaying the filing of its second quarter report as it said that it needed additional time to prepare financial statements.
The SPAC is also under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as it might have negotiated a deal with Trump’s company before DWAC going public. If this turns out to be true, it is illegal.
In December 2021, one of its investors, Brian Shevland filed a lawsuit against the CEO of the SPAC claiming it to be “a brazen act of fraud”, according to reports by outlets. Last week DWAC asked its shareholders for a year’s extension in the deadline to complete the merger with the company that is behind Trump’s Truth Social platform.
Trump’s social media platform Truth Social has faced problems right from its inception. These problems might accelerate as investigations proceed.
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