An attorney for an e-publishing company has accused Barack and Michelle Obama of “deplorable behavior” after the former first couple filed to cancel his client’s trademark and take it for themselves.
The Hollywood Reporter states that the Obamas filed a petition to cancel the trademark of the company called Higher Ground Enterprises. The couple had formed Higher Ground Productions LLC to broker a lucrative agreement with Netflix to produce films and television series.
They originally argued that the two similar names could co-exist in the market, something the U.S. Trademark Office rejected in refusing to register the Obamas claim back in April.
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Rather than come up with a different name the couple decided to try and take it for themselves, filing a petition to cancel the trademark for Higher Ground Enterprises.
The attorney for the company, Larry Zerner, issued a statement condemning the Obamas “meritless petition to cancel my client’s trademark” and described their actions as “really deplorable behavior.”
“I hope that the Obamas realize that these actions are not consistent with the values they preach and that they instruct their attorneys to immediately dismiss the petition,” Zerner added.
Obamas accused of ‘deplorable behavior’ amid trademark dispute: 'Not consistent with the values they preach' https://t.co/egc5YVpKvm #FoxNews >> Every political season has "deplorables" Meet #thenewdeplorables
— Bo Snerdley (@BoSnerdley) September 4, 2019
Even the normally fawning Hollywood Reporter took a snarky jab at Michelle and Barack for engaging in this trademark fight.
“When they go low, we go high,” said Michelle Obama at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.
Going high evidently includes a trademark fight.
They go on to describe the duo’s actions as “aggressive.”
“The U.S. Trademark Office rejects an application for ‘Higher Ground Productions,’ so the former president and first lady get aggressive,” THR reported.
Obamas’ debut Netflix documentary slammed as 'lefty propaganda,' an attack on Trump https://t.co/KLhjulWVQU #FoxNews >> And what did folks expect?
— Bo Snerdley (@BoSnerdley) September 4, 2019
In May of 2018, Netflix announced that they had signed the Obamas to a multiyear deal to produce “scripted series, unscripted series, docu-series, documentaries, and features.”
That came less than two months after they had added former National Security Advisor and Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, to their board.
The New York Times reported that the agreement with Netflix would provide the Obamas with a “global” and “unfiltered” platform to the public – a role previously held by the American media.
Cross-posted at The Mental Recession
