It seems that Trump's clocks are infringing copyright law.
The company that manufactures Trump watches prominently displays a recognizable image of the presidential candidate on its products. However, there is a significant drawback: it does not have permission to do so.
At the end of September, Donald Trump enthusiastically shared a new business venture on Truth Social: “The Official Trump Watch Collection,” suggesting it would make a “great Christmas gift.” The collection includes two watches, initially named “Fight Fight Fight” and “Victory Tourbillon,” with prices ranging from $799 to $100,000. They are marketed as crafted from “premium Swiss materials” with “intricate details.” However, watch experts have criticized the quality of these products, with one specialist mentioning they are the worst celebrity watches he has seen.
Despite promoting these watches, Trump will not receive direct profits from the sales, as he has signed a name, image, and likeness agreement with a little-known Wyoming LLC. This situation is exemplified by a photo of Trump with his fist raised, taken after an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, which is mentioned to be engraved on the back of the “Fight” watch.
The company TheBestWatchesonEarth LLC has been accused of advertising a product it cannot deliver, as the image in question is owned by a news agency with nearly two centuries of history. This week, it was reported that the agency is seeking a cease and desist order against the LLC. Evan Vucci, the Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer who captured that image, has confirmed that although he does not own the rights to it, the agency does and plans to protect them.
In the collection, which includes the “Fight Fight Fight” models, it is intended that the controversial image of Trump be present, but TheBestWatchesonEarth does not have the rights to use it. Typically, it is celebrities who request the removal of their image from products, but this is not the case here. For instance, B. J. Novak was featured on several products without his consent, although he claimed it seemed “too funny” for him to take action.
On the other hand, details about TheBestWatchesonEarth are limited. The company registered at the end of July, about three months before announcing the watches, and it is unclear who is behind the LLC. Fortunately for this company, other watches in its catalog do not include the controversial image. One highlighted model is the “First Lady,” an exclusive watch limited to 100 units that sold out quickly and was promoted with the phrase “Buy one to wear every day... or gift one to all the women in your life,” although Melania's name does not appear anywhere in the promotional material, which could suggest she was not one of the buyers.
The “Victory Tourbillon” watches are also presented, featuring an automatic movement in a display case. However, references to this movement are sparse. A commentator noted that the manufacturer of the movement is known for producing affordable versions of Tourbillons, which can be acquired for less than $3,500.
TheBestWatchesonEarth associates with other Trump-branded products, including new sneakers launched earlier this year. Both product lines were registered by Andrew Pierce, who specializes in creating business structures with anonymous names, helping individuals maintain privacy in an overload of digital information.