RNC Sues Former Virgin Islands GOP Chairman for Using Trademarks

The Republican National Committee brought a trademark infringement lawsuit against the former chairman and former secretary of the the Virgin Islands GOP for allegedly using the Republican Party’s marks without authorization.

The complaint, filed in the US District Court of the Virgin Islands, said the former chairman hasn’t been recognized by the RNC since 2020 and was told to “pause all VIGOP-branded political activity.”

However, former chairman John Canegata and former secretary Robert Schanfarber have continued to use the RNC’s name and elephant logo on the VIGOP website and in advertising for an unauthorized meeting in April, the complaint said.

The two have also continued to use the trademarks to raise money for VIGOP political action committee, which took in $560,000 between January 2021 and March 2022.

Using the term “GOP,” which the RNC registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office in 1997, will mislead voters and donors into believing they are contributing to a PAC that is authorized and affiliated with the RNC, the complaint filed May 20 said.

The complaint said the RNC voted to stop recognizing Canegata as the VIGOP chairman in August 2020, and Schanfarber hasn’t held his position as secretary since March 2022. Delegates at the 2020 Republican National Convention didn’t ratify Schanfarber’s election as an RNC committee member, the complaint said.

RNC staff worked with the two on a plan to elect new VIGOP officers over the past two years, during which Canegata and Schanfarber were permitted to use the RNC marks “for the limited purpose of calling and advertising meetings related to the caucus,” the complaint said.

The RNC said it sent cease-and-desist letters to Canegata and Schanfarber in April, but they refused to stop using the marks. They “responded only by filing a frivolous disciplinary complaint against RNC attorneys,” the complaint said.

The complaint said the RNC registered the elephant logo for campaign activities in 1995, and its first use in commerce was in 1969.

Causes of Action: Federal trademark infringement and dilution.

Relief: Preliminary and permanent injunction, damages, attorneys’ fees and costs.

Response: Canegata and Schanfarber didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

Attorneys: Barnes, D’Amour & Vogel represent the RNC.

The case is Republican National Committee v. Canegata, D.V.I., No. 3:22-cv-00037, 5/20/22.