Plaques Honoring Newsweek Rankings Infringe Trademark, Suit Says

Newsweek LLC sued a company that makes recognition products for allegedly infringing its trademarks by selling plaques commemorating various entities’ appearances in the magazine’s rankings.

Showmark Media LLC reaches out to individuals and organizations recognized by publishers like Newsweek to solicit sales of plaques and other display items, the complaint in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York said. Putting Newsweek’s brand on these items illegally co-opts the publication’s goodwill while competing with licensed third-parties authorized to sell commemorative products with Newsweek’s name on it, the Tuesday filing said.

The lawsuit represents a test for the ...