Take Two Tablets
A CATHOLIC MAGAZINE has threatened legal action against a new nationwide student publication, a week before its first edition even goes to press.
Tablet, the new student publication, which will publish articles from Oxford students among its pages, could come to blows with The Tablet, one of the longest running religious publications in the country over the use of its name. Catholic publication The Tablet is apparently quite alarmed at the use of its name in a 'cutting edge' student publication.
Hugh Kealy, publisher of The Tablet, told the Oxford Student that his magazine was very concerned by the duplication of their name on a glossy student publication, without prior permission.
"The Tablet is a registered trademark in the UK and several overseas jurisdictions with all the legal protection that affords," he said.
He added that with extra information, their publishers would warn the new magazine that "they face legal action should they proceed with their planned use of the title Tablet."
Richard Antwi, a former student of Lincoln College and publisher of student magazine Tablet, which will be sent to over eighty universities from 24th October, said that the magazine's management had discussed the legal implications of the name previously and was unperturbed by any calls for legal action.
"There wouldn't be much in it for them," he said. "They are not targeting the young cool hip kids who want to read something different like us." He added that The Tablet should not be offended, since the introduction of his magazine was not aimed at Catholic parishoners.
Tablet will send 100,000 copies of its new glossy issue across the country next week. It will include contributions from students at Oxford, UCL, SOAS and Manchester University, and its press release claims it will "ensure fresh content by having unrivalled access to a vast network of cutting edge creative talent". It will be published once a term and based aroud a theme, which will be deconstructed through "art, music, fashion and intelligent lifestyle features."
The Catholic magazine The Tablet has been in print since 1840, and was established following a pamphlet published by Frederick Lucas in 1838 entitled 'Reasons For Becoming A Catholic'.
The theme of the first edition of Tablet will be 'Tribes' and includes an interview with UK garage artists Middle Row, as well as interviews with a former inmate from Feltham Young Offenders Institute.
Despite Tablet's bullishness about going ahead with publication, the Catholic publishers at The Tablet seem insistent on pursuing further action to safeguard their name.
It remains to be seen whether they will get their way, but the student publication Tablet will be in universities across the country from next week.
18th Oct 2001