AFP to DNC: Hands Off My Trademark!

New Democratic National Committee ads use ‘Hands Off Our Health Care,’ the mark of Americans for Prosperity’s patient-centered initiative

ARLINGTON, Va. – Americans for Prosperity’s legal counsel has issued a cease and desist notice to the Democratic National Committee regarding its new health care ad campaign which uses AFP’s trademark.

AFP popularized the slogan “Hands Off My Health Care” through its nationwide efforts against the Washington takeover of health care, beginning in May of 2009, and has filed a U.S.Trademark Application seeking registration of the trademark.

“They say imitation is the highest form of flattery, and we appreciate the DNC’s acknowledgement that our message resonates with the American people,” said AFP President Tim Phillips. “But we can’t have our activists – or the DNC’s – confused about whose project they’re talking about.”

The DNC just launched its radio ad campaign to attack members of Congress who support the repeal of the health care takeover bills.

“We’ve been telling Congress for the past year to keep their hands off our health care,” Phillips said. “ Now that a Democrat majority successfully passed these bills, their political operatives are trying to improve their public image by defending what they’ve done.

The fact that they’ve turned to using AFP’s slogan shows they’re out of original ideas to defend this Washington power grab.”

AFP has hosted hundreds of health care events, including rallies in Washington, D.C., and around the country and its bus tour, complete with a bus that said “Hands Off My Health Care” in huge letters.

Attorneys for AFP sent a letter to the DNC Friday evening asking that they “cease and desist” using the slogan. They are asked to reply by April 2.