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CafePress.com v. Republican National Committee

The Republican National Committee, having obtained federal trademark registrations for the acronym “GOP” and for a stylized logo of an elephant, told CafePress that unless it prevented its users from creating and selling items imprinted with designs that incorporate those trademarks into designs that comment on Republican policies and candidates, it would bring suit for trademark infringement and dilution and seek treble damages. After the RNC refused to engage in CafePress’s request to discuss its concerns about infringing on political speech, CafePress alerted the public to the controversy and warned the RNC that it faced an action for a declaratory judgment. As soon as the press started calling the RNC, it agreed to renounce its trademark claims.