A Mexican businessman offended by President Donald Trump's insults to his countrymen is seizing on a possible oversight in the magnate's branding plans.
The lawyer in central Mexico is taking the fight against President Donald Trump to the toilet. Corporate lawyer Antonio Battaglia is introducing "Trump" brand toilet paper, marketed under the slogans "Softness without borders" and "This is the wall that, yes, we will pay for."
Antonio Battaglia is reportedly planning to launch a “Trump” branded toilet paper later this year — with 30 percent of the profits going toward financing programs that support migrants and Mexicans deported from the U.S.
Mexico's Institute of Industrial Property has granted Trump's company trademarks on his name in sectors such as construction, hotels, tourism, real estate and financial services. But the Trump Organization didn't bother to cover what's referred to in Spanish as "hygenic paper," and Battaglia's trademark for Trump toilet paper was approved in October 2015, according to the institute's records.
Battaglia told Expansion that he was initially inspired to release a product that made a stand against Trump following the businessman’s “insulting” comments about Mexicans as he announced his candidacy for the presidency in June 2015.
“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best,” Trump said. “They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”
“It annoyed me and I started to look for a way to do something that would have an impact,” Battaglia said. “Not in a mocking tone or as revenge, but in a positive way.”
The lawyer said he initially planned to register a clothing or shoe line under the “Trump” name. His family runs a shoe-making business. But he discovered that Mexico’s Institute of Industrial Property had already granted the trademarks to the Trump Organization.
“Then came the idea of producing a toilet paper, a product that was ironic and that would remain in the market for a good time,” said Battaglia, who is investing 400,000 pesos of his own money (about $21,400) into the project.
To his relief, he found the “Trump” trademark for “hygienic paper” had not yet been taken. According to The Associated Press, the Institute approved his trademark application for “Trump” toilet paper in October 2015.
Battaglia hopes to begin selling the paper in September, but says making money from the project is “secondary.” “What I want is that it is useful to help migrants and the deported.”
A photograph of the prototype packaging shows a cartoon version of Trump giving a thumbs-up, alongside the slogan “softness without borders.”
As reported, Packages are expected to begin rolling off production lines later this year, with 30 percent of the profits promised to programs supporting migrants.
No comments