The journalists behind the revival of Gourmet are dropping the storied magazine’s name months after Condé Nast sued over the publication’s use of the trademark.
In a note to readers sent Monday, the worker-owned publication announced it will begin rebranding on Tuesday, with future newsletters temporarily arriving under “[Untitled Food Magazine]” until a permanent name is unveiled.
“Starting tomorrow, we’re going to begin the process of rebranding,” the editors wrote. “You’ll still get your regular Tuesday and Thursday newsletters, but they’ll be coming from [Untitled Food Magazine] until we unveil our new moniker.”
The announcement follows a trademark dispute that began earlier this year, when Condé Nast sued Goulash Unlimited, the LLC behind the revived publication, alleging it infringed on the Gourmet mark despite the print magazine’s closure in 2009.
The five journalists behind the relaunch had announced the publication’s return in January after acquiring the trademark, which they said had lapsed. Condé Nast argued in its complaint that it continued to use the Gourmet brand through Epicurious and Gourmet-branded content on YouTube, and that the new venture threatened the value and goodwill associated with the trademark.
The founders said they financed the launch with a few thousand dollars of personal funds and small donations from friends and have consulted legal counsel regarding potential trademark disputes.
The editors did not mention the litigation in Monday’s announcement or indicate whether the rebrand is connected to the ongoing legal fight.
Instead, they emphasized continuity.
“Despite the name change, the rest will stay the same,” the editors wrote. “It’s still us—Alex, Amiel, Cale, Nozlee and Sam—attempting to create a little food utopia with all of you.”
The publication also said it has published 57 issues since launching in January and plans to continue its regular Tuesday and Thursday publishing schedule during the transition.
The editors did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.
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