A local lifestyle magazine has been forced to change its name after legal pressure from aviation giant British Airways.

Sefton and West Lancs Highlife magazine launched three years ago by the Champion Media Group and is distributed quarterly to 20,000 homes in West Lancashire.

But it has now been forced to change its name to Gr8 Life Magazine after objections from BA, which also publishes a magazine called Highlife.

The move followed a solicitor’s letter sent on behalf of BA warning that the airline owned the trademark in the name Highlife and requesting that the magazine find another title.

Editor Rebecca Keegan said: “Although Highlife is the title of BA’s in-flight magazine, we were astonished that the airline would be concerned by our publication as it operates in a wholly different environment.

“And as a small, local publisher we found it hard to believe that such a massive corporation could feel threatened by us.

“After months of correspondence we decided to tell our readers the situation, and give them the opportunity to pick a new name.

“We received more than 150 suggestions and felt Gr8 Life Magazine was the best – we write about all that is great in our area, so why not put it on the cover?”

Based in Southport, Gr8 Life magazine covers subjects including homes, gardens, society, celebrities, fashion, antiques and motors.

The magazine is also launching a new revamped website, www.gr8lifemagazine.com which will go live soon.

Comments

Ruth P (15/06/2009 08:55:35)
I cannot believe how petty and pathetic BA are being. they are just a bunch of braindead bullies.

Martin (15/06/2009 13:59:50)
Sorry, but the Champion Media Group should have checked out the trademark situation on a title before launch. Better safe than sorry.

Fraiser G (15/06/2009 14:17:31)
One is BA Highlife and one was Sefton & West Lancs Highlife, just as different as the Liverpool Echo and the Sunderland Echo.
Except one is a milti billion pound company and another is a small publisher… Good luck to the Gr8 Life team.