Trademark OK in Russia aids Comrade Don
AS DONALD Trump surged to the presidency last year, his business ties to Russia were also doing well, according to a report Sunday.
The Russian government renewed a series of Trump trademarks through 2016 — including four on Election Day, The New York Times reported Sunday.
Between April and December, Russia’s intellectual property agency Rospatent granted 10-year extensions to six Trump trademarks. The renewals trickled in even as Trump insisted he had no business deals in Russia. His campaign remains under investigation for potential collusion with the Russian government.
The refreshed trademarks for hotel and branding deals were set to expire at the end of 2016.
Even though none of the projects has materialized — and some of the trademarks date to 1996 — the Trump Organization still sought to extend them for another decade.
The company now has the ability to pursue any of the trademark deals in Russia while Trump, who still controls the company, sits in the White House.There is no evidence that Trump pushed for, or received, special treatment from the trademark office.
But the renewed deals appear to be at odds with Trump’s claims that he has no financial ties to Russia.