Less than a week until its hilarious Kickstarter campaign was set to close, Chuck Williams’ Naked Trump Troll Doll project was pulled by the crowdfunding platform over an intellectual property dispute.
As previously reported, the Trump Troll Doll surfaced on Kickstarter last month, seeking $30,000. Within a matter of days, the project secured more than $300,000. Williams, who reportedly was senior staff sculptor for the Walt Disney Co. in the 90’s, stated:
“I am looking to fund the manufacturing of a large number of factory made vinyl Trump Troll dolls. The sculpture seems to have struck a very popular chord with my family and friends on Facebook. This figure is near and dear to me and thankfully it seems to have brought a smile to all sides of the political spectrum. The response has taken me a little by surprise!! I am very grateful to have made so many people happy with this sculpture. I want to make this figure widely available to everyone around the world that has taken a liking to my caricature sculpture and to do that I need your help to cover the costs of making the production molds and castings as well as the freight costs from the toy factory.”
Unfortunately, just after the campaign captured $431,479 from 9,362, Kickstarter shut down the campaign and put up the message:
“The Official World’s Greatest Troll Sculpt By Chuck Williams is the subject of an intellectual property dispute and is currently unavailable.”
Kickstarter also released the description of the copyrighted material, which was sent to the crowdfunding platform by NBCUniversal Media, LLC:
“DreamWorks Animation L.L.C. (‘DWA’), and its parent company NBCUniversal Media, LLC, owns the associated intellectual property related to animated film franchise DREAMWORKS TROLLS, which is based on the famous ‘Dam Trolls’/’Good Luck Trolls’ created by Thomas Dam (see http://www.damworld.dk/10032948). In 2012, DWA acquired the copyright rights to the Dam Trolls/Good Luck Trolls from Thomas Dam’s holding company on a global basis. This includes all of the original visual elements in relation to the Dam Trolls/Good Luck Trolls character, including the furry up-combed hair, naked and pot-bellied figure, and other distinctive physical features (collectively, the ‘Trolls Property’).”
Kickstarter added:
“This Kickstarter campaign is and has been infringing DWA’s intellectual property rights, including copyright, in the Trolls Property by offering for sale Trump troll dolls relating to the Trolls Property without license or authorization.”
Williams has yet to comment on Kickstarter’s decision.
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