Franklin the Turtle

Franklin the Turtle is a beloved children's book character published by a Canadian company. The publisher is currently newsworthy due to its public condemnation of unauthorized and politically charged uses of the Franklin character by the US government. Recently, the publisher disavowed the Trump administration's use of Franklin artwork, alongside singer Sabrina Carpenter's disavowal of her music, in what appears to be promotional material. More recently, the publisher condemned a social media post by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth depicting a mocked-up book cover showing Franklin targeting boats with a rocket launcher. These actions highlight the publisher's commitment to protecting the integrity of the Franklin character and preventing its association with political agendas or violent imagery, demonstrating the ongoing relevance of intellectual property rights and the power of publishers to defend their brands against misuse.