Robin Givhan writes here about a story that first appeared in The Times about a new billboard in New York City featuring President Obama sporting a Weatherproof jacket.  The story raises the interesting question of what happens when a politician’s likeness is used in connection with a commercial enterprise.

Obama happened to be wearing one of the company’s jackets when he toured the Great Wall of China last fall. While reading the Wall Street Journal, Weatherproof President Freddie Stollmack spotted a photograph of the president in the coat. He bought the rights to use the original Associated Press image, in which the president looks a bit like a gentleman lumberjack awaiting his Land Rover, and enlarged it into a mammoth billboard with the tagline: “A Leader in Style.”

The White House issued a statement of disapproval.  At a recent press conference, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs addressed the matter.

Q    Robert, has the matter involving the advertising billboard been resolved?

MR. GIBBS:  It’s my understanding that Counsel’s Office spoke with the company and that the company is supposed to take that ad down.

Q    Anyone offer you a billboard to endorse any product?

MR. GIBBS:  No, I —

Q    Why not?  (Laughter.)

MR. GIBBS:  I better not make any jacket jokes here or — the boss might be watching.