Obamas force woman to give up her ‘Higher Ground’ trademark for their production company instead of picking a new name
A California business owner has revealed that former president and first lady, Barack and Michelle Obama, are trying to take away the trademark on her company's name.
Hanisya Massey started a computer training company called Higher Ground Enterprises more than a decade ago, way before Obama left office and founded Higher Ground Productions—an entertainment company—with his wife, according to The New York Times.
While the new production company has settled trademark conflicts with various other firms, they haven't done so with Massey due to her "significant demands", according to a statement by the Obama company's trademark lawyer Jim Vana. He told Fox Business that Massey's "demands" include a request for a small part in one of their productions.
"It was not 'I want to star in a movie,'" Massey's lawyer Larry Zerner told the Times. "It was like, 'Can I get a bit part in something?'"
According to the report, the dispute first began in the summer when the former first couple was unable to trademark their company name owing to its similarity to Massey's firm, whose trademark was approved in 2017.
Obama's lawyers, who failed to reach a deal with Massey, told the United States Patent and Trademark Office that they had been unable to find any public evidence of her company or its use of the trademark.
"In no way does this petition hinder their ability to do business—or to operate day-to-day—now or in the future," Vana said in the statement. "In all our dealings, we have made clear many times that there is an opportunity for an amicable and constructive resolution. In fact, we remain open to discussing options to co-exist in the marketplace, and [Higher Ground Productions] wishes them success in their endeavors."
But, according to Massey, the case and petition could potentially hurt her livelihood. "It could definitely hurt my business severely," she said. "Because if you Google this, this is the only thing that comes up. And I am pretty much a little needle in the haystack at this point."
Massey also told the Times she voted for Barack Obama for president both times he ran for the office. Her legal dispute with the former commander-in-chief could last until 2021.