Marked. - Issue 060
JMSN challenges White House use of his music, while Baylor and Boston University move closer to resolving a logo dispute.
Issue No. 060
September 30, 2026
New York
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The IP Briefing · by ESCA Legal
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| R&B artist JMSN sent a cease-and-desist letter demanding that the White House stop using his song Love Me in a government-funded advertisement featuring President Trump. |
| § | JMSN says he did not authorize the song for the advertisement and does not want his work associated with a political agenda or campaign. | | § | The letter demands that the administration withdraw scheduled airings, remove online copies that use the song, and provide an accounting of the campaign's placements and spending. | | § | The advertisement aired across broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms as part of a White House campaign classified as public service announcements. | | § | The White House has described the advertisements as messages about patriotism and has not publicly answered the copyright demand. |
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| § ESCA Takeaway |
| Permission questions can surface wherever a recognizable work or symbol is put to a new use. One dispute centers on music in a government advertisement, while the other shows how a long-running coexistence arrangement can be tested when branding practices change. |
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| More IP Stories |
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| § Trademark · Closed |
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| Baylor University told a Texas federal court that it has made significant progress toward resolving its trademark case against Boston University over the schools' interlocking BU logos. |
| § | Baylor says the parties are close to finalizing an agreement but are not yet ready to dismiss the lawsuit. | | § | The schools previously entered a coexistence agreement covering their respective uses of BU branding. | | § | Baylor claims Boston University's later use of an interlocking logo on merchandise and club sports apparel breached that arrangement and created a risk of confusion. | | § | The parties must file a dismissal or another settlement update by October 9. |
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Why it matters
Coexistence agreements depend on clear boundaries and consistent brand use. When one party changes how a shared abbreviation appears in the market, an old accommodation can become a new source of conflict.
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This newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Published by ESCA Legal. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Attorney advertising; prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
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