Comments on: Post’s New ‘Gut Check’ Column Almost Lost Its Name Before It Even Hit the Streets

By: Ramona

Ramona — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:28:41 +0000

I think that using Gut Check violates the rules of the contest-in spirit at least. Now, I can see if this wasn't the WaPo- say rather, a distant paper. However, NoVa magazine's writer has been doing a blog called "Gut Check" for a while now, and while it's not a column, it is the writing of a food critic.
In another scenario, would it be right to name the column Young & Hungry"? Tim, you've had this wonderful, established blog, which is not a newspaper column. Would you mind?
Then again, perhaps the name is already claimed/copyrighted.
Thanks in advance.

By: Nelson

Nelson — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:31:52 +0000

Seems some smart people in St. Louis have a long-standing blog called "Gut Check"

http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/gutcheck/

Or perhaps this guy has a case?

http://www.gut-check.com/

By: Nelson

Nelson — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:27:21 +0000

This is the sort of thing that happens when you run off all the senior editorial managers from the Web site. You see, there was a whole process for vetting names through legal so TWP wouldn't get sued for trademark infringement (which it nearly did years ago when the online style section was renamed 'arts & leisure,' prompting a polite note from the NYT's lawyers.) But when the people who know about that process are forced out or, more likely, cut out of the loop on something like this, then you wind up with this sort of mistake. I blame the "culture of the infallible editor" mentality at TWP and the failure of top managers to encourage people to challenge it. Maybe we'll find out that some BIG media company has a trademark on "gut check." That'll spice things up.

By: I dunno

I dunno — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:21:01 +0000

I sympathize with accidental duplication, but google "gut check" dc and it's the second thing that comes up - after this story.

By: Tim Carman

Tim Carman — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:12:51 +0000

Mike,

Good question. Maybe Joe will be kind enough to respond here.

-Tim

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:11:35 +0000

I wonder if this disqualifies the winning entry from receiving the prize (not that it was anything huge). In their original call for suggestions on the 24th, Yonan wrote: "There's just one thing missing: a name. Can you help? Give us your ideas in the comments section below. The person who submits the snappiest name (hint: Make sure it's original, not already the title of a book or a column in another publication) will get a special prize from our stash of books and gizmos."