Sues web site over Barack Obama merchandise — Obama campaign

Obama campaign files lawsuit over Obama merchandise featuring “rising sun” logo.

Obama for America has filed a second lawsuit against DemStore.com and Washington Promotions & Printing, Inc., which allegedly sell merchandise counting the campaign’s “rising sun” trademark. (A quick look at DemStore.com confirms this.)

The suit (pdf) was filed in U.S. District Court, District of Columbia, on June 1.

Obama for American previously filed a suit against the defendants in October 2011. In January it asked the court to dismiss the case without prejudice.

The campaign states that DemStore.com’s sales of Obama merchandise hurt it on multiple fronts. First, it states sales of “rising sun” merchandise make up a significant amount of Obama for America’s revenue. Second, it states each time a supporter makes a modest purchase on the BarackObama.com web site, it’s able to contact the client’s contact information. It can then use that contact information to “reach out to that individual repeatedly to seek further donations…”