Bauer Media has taken Mamamia to court over the similarity of the name of its new spin-off site called Debrief Daily to Bauer’s site The Debrief which launched in the UK in February.
Mia Freedman, who began her career at Bauer when it operated as Australian Consolidated Press editing Cosmopolitan, announced the new site in November explaining at the time the site was inspired as she enters into the next stage of her life and found mainstream media struggling to connect with her.
At a directions hearing in the Federal Court yesterday dates were set for evidence and hearings, with the case to be heard on February 16 after a temporary injunction hearing next week on December 16, which will attempt to restrain Mamamia from launching and promoting the title while the case is heard.
The Daily Debrief is aimed at women in their 40s while Bauer’s The Debrief is a UK site tailored for women in their 20s. However, Bauer Media has applied for the trademark in various locations. Bauer Media lodged the trademark locally in September while Mamamia trademarked its title in November.
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Mamamia’s Debrief Daily is currently in beta testing mode, with Mia Freedman named as the site’s editor.
Both Bauer Media and Mamamia declined to comment on the ongoing proceedings.
Miranda Ward