Trump project in Panama goes to court over Dubai design

(Herald Tribune)The developer of a Trump residential tower in Panama is defending itself against charges it copied the design of the legendary Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai.

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Last month Newland International Properties Corp., which is building the Trump Ocean Club in Panama City, took the unusual step of asking a local court for a protective order to prevent the owners of the Burj Al Arab from threatening a lawsuit. No suit has been filed, but Newland wanted to stop Jumeirah Group from “using threats of legal action to negatively impact the project,” according to coverage in La Prensa.

While it seems a stretch to say the Trump Ocean Club copied the 10-year-old Dubai tower, there are obvious similarities. Both use a “mast and sail” motif, a popular theme for oceanfront projects these days.

Representatives of Newland, which licensed the Trump name, didn’t respond to several queries about the Burj dispute. A spokeswoman for Jumeirah declined to comment, except to say, “Burj Al Arab is unique in terms of its architecture, interior design and its luxurious standards of service… We believe its iconic status as the world’s most luxurious hotel and symbol of Dubai will continue for many years to come.”

Meanwhile, recent court filings offer a glimpse into how much Donald Trump earns for allowing his name on a projects like the Trump Ocean Club. According to a lawsuit Trump filed against the developers of a project in Israel, Trump was supposed to get a 25 percent of every unit sold of a “Trump Plaza” near Tel Aviv. The suit alleges the developers announced plans to build the project than resold the land for a $36 million profit without cutting Trump in on the deal, according to coverage in the New York Post.