The latest Melania Trump latest NFT collection, featuring NASA Apollo 11 image, potentially breaches the space agency’s strict image usage rules.
Melania Trump, the former First Lady, has found herself in a potential entanglement with NASA, the federal space agency, due to her latest Non-Fungible Token (NFT) release. A report from Gizmodo brought attention to an apparent infringement of NASA’s image usage policy.
The NFT, aptly named “Man on the Moon,” went live this past Wednesday. The digital art piece gives center stage to the world-renowned photograph of astronaut Buzz Aldrin during the historic 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing, an event orchestrated by NASA. According to the space agency’s rules, the usage of its images in NFT ventures is a strict no-go zone.
Understanding NASA’s Image Usage Rules
NASA’s Merchandising Requests and Media Usage Guidelines are crystal clear: the agency distances itself from any association with NFTs. The guidelines plainly state that NASA is not giving the green light to any merchandising applications related to NFTs.
When it comes to using any NASA emblems, identifiers, or imagery on merchandise, explicit approval is necessary. The process of approval, as stated by NASA, is surrounded by rigid laws and regulations. Melania Trump, alongside the USA Memorabilia NFT platform, may have either neglected to submit a request to NASA or had an application turned down, as the usage of NASA’s intellectual property for NFTs is a complete non-starter.
However, this scenario presents a conundrum. The images created by federal agencies, NASA included, form part of the public domain, allowing for unrestricted usage. Hence, if NASA decides to initiate a legal case against Trump, it’s uncertain how successful they could be.
Lessons from Past Instances
Historically, NASA has shied away from a confrontational approach. The Los Angeles Times once reported that, despite having the ability to send cease-and-desist notices to policy-violating merchants, NASA prefers to encourage compliance through more friendly dialogues.
What makes this case unique, though, is that NASA’s ban on using its images extends to all NFTs without exception.
As of now, NASA hasn’t offered any comment on the matter following Decrypt’s inquiries.
The Trumps in the NFT Market
Melania Trump’s foray into the NFT sector has been marked by her activity. Recently, she unveiled a series of NFTs that highlight significant milestones in American history. Her journey in this digital field began with the launch of projects on the Solana NFT platform towards the end of 2021.
Former President Donald Trump also made his mark in the NFT market. His collection experienced a surge in value after his indictment by a New York grand jury on criminal charges in March. However, the value plummeted when he introduced a new set of digital trading cards the following month, which considerably diluted the worth of the original project.