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Ron Paul sues fan base to reclaim name-at the United Nations
by Joseph Earnest February 15, 2013
Newscast Media NEW YORK—Mike Huckabee once made a profound statement: "Ron Paul is unelectable. His followers are too fanatical!" The recently-retired Texas congressman has just found that out, and is suing his fan base at the United Nations to reclaim his name. It has taken this journalist a week to respond to this, as I am currently doing research on multiple projects with deadlines to meet.
The dispute involves the RON PAUL domain that Paul feels has been hijacked by his rabid fans, who have put a $250,000 price-tag on it. Paul refuses to pay anyone money for his own name, and has decided to file a Complaint with none other than the United Nations, to help reclaim both RONPAUL.com and RONPAUL.org.
In his complaint, Ron Paul asserts he owns the RON PAUL trademark, and that it is well-settled that trademark rights may be established by use of a mark, and the mark need not be registered in order for the trademark owner to have standing in a UDRP (Uniform Domain Name Resolution) proceeding. The UN has previously ruled: "[T]he Uniform Policy is applicable to unregistered trademarks and service marks."
Ron Paul cited Clinton v. Michele Dinoia, 2005 WL 853535 (UDRP-ARB Dec. 2005) (finding sufficient rights in the HILLARY CLINTON mark stemming from its use and exposure in the marketplace and political activities). He also cited Roberts v. Boyd, 2000 UDRP Lexis 164 (2000) (concluding that the actress Julia Roberts had acquired common law rights to her name).
Paul then distances himself from the accused in the Complaint by saying the Respondents can demonstrate no legitimate purpose for registering domain names identical to the RON PAUL mark. He takes it a step further when he says, "Ron Paul has no relationship with the Respondents and has not authorized Respondents to use the RON PAUL name."
One of Paul's biggest gripes is that these fans are using the Ron Paul name to sell merchandise on their Websites, including Ron Paul bumper stickers, t-shirts, posters, mugs, speakers, mousepads, shoes, ties and other "Ron Paul gear" as well as advertising on their sites. Paul believes, since these fans have generated thousands of dollars using his name, and continue to do so, they ought not demand that he pay them six figures for giving him back what rightfully belongs to him.
The Complaint says they offered to sell back Ron Paul his name for $848,000. Later on, they dropped their asking price to $250,000, even though they paid no more than $9.99 to $29.99 to register the domain name. In southern vernacular one would say, "Ain't that somethin?"
Ultimately, the so-called "Truth Movement" has always been about making money off of Ron Paul, rather than exposing the truth, and unfortunately Paul who thought he himself was awakened, is finding out the hard way. Paul now has to spend thousands of dollars on legal fees and lawyers, fighting the very people who gave the impression they were his avid supporters. Where is the loyalty?
Just when you think your eyes have been opened, they'll blow smoke right back into them and leave you reeling. Discernment is key. *Click here to read or download the Ron Paul United Nations Complaint. (pop-up)
Paul's fans have 21 days to find a lawyer who will represent them before the UN tribunal, or a default judgment will be issued against them in the Ron Paul's favor.
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