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submitted 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world

The company behind Trump Watches prominently features an iconic image of the presidential candidate on its timepieces. There’s one big problem: It’s not allowed to.

According to the Associated Press, though, TheBestWatchesonEarth LLC advertised a product it can’t deliver, as that image is owned by the 178-year-old news agency. This week, the AP told WIRED it is pursuing a cease and desist against the LLC, which is registered in Sheridan, Wyoming. (The company did not reply to a request for comment about the cease and desist letter.)

Evan Vucci, the AP’s Pulitzer Prize–winning chief photographer, took that photograph, and while he told WIRED he does not own the rights to that image, the AP confirmed earlier this month in an email to WIRED that it is filing the written notice. “AP is proud of Evan Vucci’s photo and recognizes its impact,” wrote AP spokesperson Nicole Meir. “We reserve our rights to this powerful image, as we do with all AP journalism, and continue to license it for editorial use only.”

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[-] Squorlple@lemmy.world 81 points 3 weeks ago

As usual, this probably won’t amount to even so much as a slap on the gold-plated wrist for him

[-] Vorticity@lemmy.world 21 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Well, that's kind of what a cease and desist is. It says, in a formal but mostly polite way, "stop doing that or we'll become less nice".

[-] confusedbytheBasics@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago

The watch website says the final version may not look like the pictures. Also they don't have a production or delivery timeline and no promises of delivery.

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[-] leftzero@lemmynsfw.com 42 points 2 weeks ago

This guy doesn't even know how to breathe without doing something illegal, does he..?

[-] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 13 points 2 weeks ago

"Lemme tell ya folks, people say I have the best lungs. Truly spectacular. I can inhale carbon dioxide and exhale fresh, clean oxygen. They tell me this is illegal. That I'm a Russian house plant. They're just jealous."

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[-] CobblerScholar@lemmy.world 35 points 3 weeks ago

Add it on the pile hoss, there's a lot of shit to shovel

[-] FunderPants@lemmy.ca 34 points 3 weeks ago

Trumpers razor, the correct solution is most often crime

[-] Aeri@lemmy.world 29 points 2 weeks ago

I mean I'll lead by saying "fuck Trump" however I would be a little annoyed if I wanted to use a depiction of myself and someone came to yell at me about it.

[-] gcheliotis@lemmy.world 30 points 2 weeks ago

Actually no, when you go to a professional photographer to have your picture taken, you pay for it. Because they put in the work and need to be compensated for it. By that logic people would never have to pay photographers for portraits, weddings, none of that. Just because you’re in a picture doesn’t mean you don’t owe a debt to the person who took it.

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[-] Furedadmins@lemmy.world 16 points 2 weeks ago

Yeah try getting copies of a copyrighted portrait made. Wedding photos, school portraits, you name it. Not yours.

[-] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 15 points 2 weeks ago

Well yes and no.

A famus artist may sell a picture of theirs to a company, them RHAT company has the copyright, not you.

Lots of artists don't own their music, don't own their likeness either.

[-] fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.com 14 points 2 weeks ago

This would decimate the photography industry.

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[-] ImADifferentBird@lemmy.blahaj.zone 20 points 2 weeks ago

Meh. The courts are set up to prevent laws from ever applying to Trump anyway. What's copyright law on the bonfire?

[-] WoahWoah@lemmy.world 10 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

ITT: people that have been stealing or paying for creative work through selling their data for so long they forgot (or never knew) laws about this exist and/or how they work.

Considering how many people think they're just one boring stream of them playing a video game away from making it big as a "content creator," it's petty shocking.

[-] Linktank@lemmy.today 8 points 3 weeks ago

So, what about the political ad signs it's being used on? Is that legal? I saw them all over the place.

[-] Cuberoot@lemmynsfw.com 10 points 2 weeks ago

Political speech has stronger 1A protection than commercial speech and one could argue for a 'fair use' exemption. Strong enough to win on its merits? I don't know -- I'm not an IP lawyer, probably not. Strong enough that a well-funded legal team could get a federal judge, hesitant to make a ruling certain to be criticized as 'election interference,' to delay a decision until after the election when the signs are all being taken down anyway? I think so.

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[-] GeorgeTheFourth@lemmy.world 7 points 2 weeks ago

The font/script they chose makes it look like it reads "anus dumper" in cursive.

[-] SpaceCowboy@lemmy.ca 7 points 2 weeks ago

Do you mean Trump's signature?

[-] NoForwardslashS@sopuli.xyz 6 points 2 weeks ago

200m is how far you can walk before the watch falls apart.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

Throw it on the pile.

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this post was submitted on 18 Oct 2024
612 points (98.1% liked)

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