New York Times sues Time Magazine for trademark infringement

The Time for talk is over.

The New York Times sued Time Magazine for trademark infringement Friday over the two publications’ similar names for live events.

The Gray Lady claimed in a Manhattan Federal Court suit that Time’s “TIME100 Talks” is confusingly similar to its “Times Talks” series.

Time launched its event series in April, which features “conversations between journalists and leading talents and thinkers,” according to the Manhattan Federal Court suit.

Times Talks, which began in 1999, is the same idea, the suit states.

“Speakers that have participated in TIME’s TIME100 Talks series have included the same types of celebrities and newsmakers as are featured in NYTCo’s Times Talks events, and TIME has even featured some of the same persons that have in the past appeared in NYTCo’s Times Talks,” the suit states.

Time also frequently promotes “Time for Health Talks,” further alarming the paper of record.

“TIME appears to be trying to develop a franchise around its combination of the terms ‘Time’ and ‘Talks,’” the suit states.

The Times says its timely outreach to Time was rejected, resulting in the lawsuit.

Time says it’s time for a fight.

“It’s flattering that the New York Times is concerned with the success of TIME 100 Talks, but we find their complaint to be baseless and somewhat bewildering,” the magazine said in a statement.

“The TIME 100 brand has been registered as a trademark and widely recognized for more than two decades, and the word ‘talks’ is commonly used across similar programs in many industries,” the statement said.

Source：www.nydailynews.com

Author：STEPHEN REX BROWN

Editor：Vapor