The target of a lawsuit over use of the name “Current” has taken on a new handle, seemingly to defuse the legal threat.
Listen Current is now Listenwise:
Celebrating the switch from @ListenCurrent to @listenwiselearn at the office @LearnLaunch today! pic.twitter.com/zEbNkduY5d
— Listenwise (@listenwiselearn) July 13, 2016
The change comes after Minnesota Public Radio filed a complaint in Minnesota U.S. District Court June 28 against Listen Current. Founded in 2013, the for-profit company in Boston develops lesson plans around public radio content for use in classrooms. The Minnesota network alleged that the name was too similar to that of 89.3 The Current, MPR’s Triple A station in the Twin Cities.
“By using the Listen Current designation in connection with radio programming, Listen Current is willfully and intentionally trading upon the goodwill MPR has at its considerable expense and effort developed in its The Current mark,” the complaint said.
MPR first challenged Listen Current over its name in 2014. It withdrew its legal complaint July 19. Listenwise COO Karen Gage would not comment on the reason for the name change.