Chicago Reader, Incorporated v. Metro College Publishing Company

NEAHER,

Senior District Judge.

This appeal requires us to decide whether the common word “Reader” can be monopolized by trademark registration for the benefit of one newspaper publisher and its licensees, to the exclusion of all others. In agreement with the district court, we answer that question in the negative and affirm its judgment in favor of the defendant-appellee.

Plaintiff-appellant, Chicago Reader, Incorporated (“CRI”), is the publisher of an “alternative” newspaper in Chicago entitled “Reader” which is distributed as “Chicago’s Free Weekly.” 1 CRI commenced this action for trademark…