A Washington, D.C.-based newspaper has initiated legal action against digital media company NOTUS, challenging its forthcoming rebranding as “The Star.” The lawsuit, filed in a Virginia federal court on Thursday, asserts that the newspaper holds a trademark for “The Star” in the context of news reporting within the D.C. area.
NOTUS, established in 2023 by Politico co-founder Robert Allbritton, announced plans to relaunch as “The Star” in June 2026. This rebranding is part of a broader strategy to expand into local and sports news coverage, aiming to fill gaps left by recent staff reductions at The Washington Post. The initiative includes hiring several former Post journalists and increasing the newsroom staff from 45 to 95 by year’s end. ([thewrap.com](https://www.thewrap.com/media-platforms/journalism/notus-rebrands-the-star-local-sports-news/?utm_source=openai))
The plaintiff contends that it had previously alerted NOTUS about its existing trademark rights to “The Star” for news reporting in the D.C. region. The lawsuit seeks to prevent NOTUS from proceeding with the rebrand, citing potential confusion among readers and infringement on established intellectual property rights.
NOTUS’s decision to adopt “The Star” as its new name is reportedly a nod to the Washington Star, a historic newspaper once owned by Allbritton’s father in the 1970s. The original Washington Star ceased publication in 1981. ([semafor.com](https://www.semafor.com/article/03/06/2026/politico-notus-founder-robert-allbritton-plans-washington-post-competitor?utm_source=openai))
As of now, NOTUS has not publicly responded to the lawsuit. The outcome of this legal dispute could have significant implications for media branding and trademark rights within the competitive Washington, D.C. news landscape.