Overview
- A federal judge granted a temporary restraining order on Tuesday that bars NOTUS from launching or advertising a rebrand to “The Star” while the court considers a preliminary injunction.
- U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. concluded The Washington Star is likely to succeed on its trademark claims because it owns a federally registered mark that it has used since 2023 and because the names could confuse readers.
- The court pointed to evidence that NOTUS tried earlier this year to buy the Washington Star trademark as showing the company had actual knowledge of the plaintiff’s rights.
- The TRO forbids new uses of the Star name and any new advertising under that brand but does not force NOTUS to remove existing public references or materials already online.
- The dispute pits rival outlets competing for Washington, D.C., readers and could shape local news branding and market positioning depending on the July 22 ruling.