A fight over the Grid name

Robert Feder of TimeOut Chicago reports that a local publication, The Chicago Grid, is upset with the Chicago Sun-Times using the name The Grid for its new weekly business publication.

Feder writes, “Zaremba’s statement expressed outrage that Wrapports would ‘sink to such lows as to recycle an idea that an independent journalist had four years ago,’ adding: ‘With such a large paid staff, it’s really sad that they couldn’t come up with an original name. Either they are incompetent and didn’t perform the necessary due diligence or are lacking serious ethics and lifted a name ready-made from a publication that is staffed by volunteers and funded out of my own pocket and through donations.’

“Asked to comment on Zaremba’s threatened legal action, Wrapports released the following statement: ‘Grid is a weekly business publication that appears in print and digital media. Ms. Zaremba’s website is not a business magazine, nor does it even appear to be active.’

“A spokeswoman for the company declined further comment.

“Multiple local websites and Twitter accounts use the word “Grid,” including Grid Chicago, a blog about sustainable transportation matters (recently renamed Streetsblog Chicago), The Grid, a website for a sports bar in River North, and Chicago Artist Grid. Elsewhere, dozens of other publications and e-zines also incorporate the word.”

Read more here.