The Baltimore Sun Media Group?s young-adult-oriented “b” newspaper, to launch next month, uses very similar trademarks and colors to another local publication, BMore Live, according to a letter of protest filed this week with federal authorities by BMore Live?s publisher.
In the March 11 letter to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, BMore Live Publisher Richard Sandza claimed marketing materials for “b” already in circulation use a similar color scheme and would be distributed in orange boxes similar to BMore Live?s own.
“[Advertisers] are already confused about whether these marketing materials are coming from us,” Sandza said. “They have every right to publish a newspaper, it?s a free country. I just wish it didn?t look like mine.”
BMore Live began publication in September 2007 and has printed more than 1.25 million copies since that time, according to Sandza?s letter. The paper is published by Baltimore-based R&B Publishing Company. “b” is scheduled to launch April 14.
In his letter, Sandza wrote that the marks and colors are “valuable assets that represent, among other things, R&B?s goodwill and reputation to the public, including readers and advertisers.” He urged the federal office to deny three pending trademark applications for the new publication “based on the confusion that has already begun.”
Tim Thomas, The Sun?s vice president of business development, said The Sun had not received the letter of protest and could not comment on its content.
However, Thomas said The Sun had received a letter from R&B on Feb. 26 that outlined the same concerns over the two publications? similar looks, and demanded The Sun discontinue using similar marks and colors. Thomas said that letter gave The Sun until March 15 to respond.
“We will [respond], by the deadline,” Thomas said. “We haven?t yet.”
But Sandza said The Sun has not halted its marketing efforts, prompting the letter of protest.
“Since the letter came out, they?ve continued to pass out marketing materials, which gave me the impression they aren?t going to respond,” Sandza said.
The federal Patent and Trademark Office did not return calls for comment Wednesday.
