BOSTON, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Two prominent Boston charities are clashing over their names in a lawsuit charging trademark infringement
The Big Sister Association of Greater Boston has sued Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay, alleging that Big Brothers' decision last year to add "Big Sisters" to its name has created public confusion about the groups' identities.
The federal lawsuit, filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Boston, comes after more than a year of discussions between the two nonprofits over the name change, The Boston Globe reported Tuesday.
"We didn't want this conflict, but we want to be able to continue to do the good work we do, and this name change is threatening our ability to do that," said Deborah Re, chief executive of the Big Sister Association
of Greater Boston.
The group filed the lawsuit after Big Brothers denied its request to remove "Big Sisters" from its name in the Boston area.
"I'm constantly asked why two organizations in the city are named Big Sister," Re said, "and my responsibilities to raise money and increase visibility are both being hindered by Big Brothers' name grab of 'Big Sister.' "
John Pearson, president and chief executive of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay, called the lawsuit "very disappointing" and noted that Big Sister raised substantially more at its 2007 annual fund-raiser than it did the previous year, despite his group's name change.
