• by Erik Sass  @eriksass1, December 11, 2010

The new digital-only newspaper from Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. has a familiar name -- "The Daily" -- which could raise some legal issues if other publications with the same name try to enforce trademark claims. That's why News Corp. is moving preemptively to keep the name free from potential legal entanglements on trademark grounds.

This week, News Corp. filed a legal petition with the U.S. Southern District Court of New York to block a rival publisher, IMG Worldwide, from seeking any trademark protection for its own publication, "The Daily Front Row," which could stop News Corp. from publishing "The Daily." The move follows an inconclusive meeting between News Corp. and IMG, where lawyers and executives representing the two companies were unable to resolve the potential legal issues resulting from trademark claims.

It's unclear whether News Corp. will have to follow up with preemptive legal injunctions preventing trademark claims by other entities with the words "The Daily" in their names.

By one count, there are over 100 U.S. newspapers with the word "Daily" in their titles listed by the Audit Bureau of Circulations, including well-known publications like the The New York Daily News, as well as the popular comedy news program "The Daily Show."

According to earlier reports, the new publication will employ about 150 people, including editorial, business and technical responsibilities, with a first-year budget of $30 million.

Jesse Angelo, the former executive editor of the New York Post, will lead the team, with Greg Clayman, who formerly served as head of digital distribution for Viacom, in charge of business operations.