I know that President Obama owns a North Face jacket and was photographed in it. He owned it before he became President and was wearing it one day because it was cold outside.

But the company took the photo and turned it into an advertisement. To them this was an endorsement and they did not have to pay the endorser!

The Secret Service pointed out to them that a few laws were being broken with this advertisement, so they took it down.

And then there is always the fact that they make and sell a good product.