Perhaps he was jealous that Ben Carson was getting all the attention for bogus trademark claims?

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump wants to stop StopTrump.us, a website that sells a variety of anti-Trump paraphernalia, including T-shirts and other doodads that have slogans like "Donald is Dumb" and "Stop Trump." His lawyer has sent a cease-and-desist letter ordering the website to stop selling its anti-Trump wares and hand over the domain name.

"As I am sure you are aware, the Trump (R) name is internationally known and famous as a result of Mr. Trump's long, extensive, and high-profile business and entertainment related activities," writes Trump's general counsel, Alan Garten, in the letter, which was obtained by The Huffington Post. "It has come to our attention that you have registered the Domain Name STOPTRUMP.US and have made a deliberate attempt to sell T-shirts online using TRUMP and DONALD TRUMP brands without any authorization from Mr. Trump."

"Mr Trump considers this to be a very serious matter," Garten concludes. Trump "has authorized our legal team to take all necessary and appropriate actions to bring an immediate halt to your blatant and unauthorized use of his trademark."

Washington Post blogger and law professor Eugene Volokh points out that Trump has no case whatsoever. No one will be confused into thinking that the "Stop Trump" website or its gear for sale is authorized by Trump; and even if someone was confused, the trademark confusion and cybersquatting laws both allow for fair use, and criticism is the classic example.

Still, some trademark bullies get away with it just by being bigger than their targets and using legal language in a threatening manner. That seems extremely unlikely to happen here. Trump isn't the only campaign team with lawyers. As the political season heats up, the Massachusetts-based activists behind StopTrump.us are likely to have offers of help from lawyers on the opposite side of the political spectrum.

"The lawsuit is pure publicity gold for the business," writes Volokh. "What a brilliant marketing tactic by the T-shirt people — but why is the Trump campaign playing along?"

The trademark letter is the second cease-and-desist sent out by the Trump team in the last few days. Politico reported yesterday that Trump sent a letter to the conservative group Club for Growth, which has begun airing commercials on what it views as his too-liberal record on issues like health care. Trump says those ads are "replete with outright lies, false, defamatory and destructive statements and downright fabrications."

Club for Growth President David McIntosh responded that Trump should "grow up" and "stop whining."