The government of China awarded U.S. President Donald Trump valuable rights to his own name this week, in the form of a 10-year trademark for construction services. The registration became official on Feb. 14 and was published in a trademark registration announcement on the website of China's Trademark Office on Wednesday. This may well be the first foreign trademark to be handed to Trump during his presidency, but is unlikely to be the last. "A different conclusion might be reached if Trump had been treated like everyone else seeking a trademark, but the evidence does not point in that direction." Alan Garten, chief legal officer of The Trump Organization, said Trump's trademark activity in China predates his election.

Source: ABC News February 15, 2017 11:40 UTC