EDVA Grants TRO in Washington Star v. NOTUS Trademark Case

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia granted in part a temporary restraining order to The Washington Star Company against Notus Media. The plaintiff owns the federally registered THE WASHINGTON STAR mark and has used it since 2023 for news and commentary services. Notus planned an imminent rebrand to The Star, targeting the same Washington, D.C. audience.

Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. found a likelihood of success on the merits, citing the arbitrary nature of the mark, its accumulated goodwill, and evidence of actual knowledge by the defendant. The court determined that the marks are substantially similar and that both parties provide overlapping news services in the same geographic area.

The TRO enjoins Notus from using The Star or similar names in new materials or advertising the rebrand. It does not require removal of existing references. A hearing on a preliminary injunction is set for July 22, 2026. The plaintiff posted a $100,000 bond.

The ruling preserves the status quo pending further proceedings under the Lanham Act.