A federal judge has temporarily blocked NOTUS from rebranding as The Star amid a trademark dispute with The Washington Star. Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. granted a temporary restraining order to prevent reader confusion between the two Washington-based publications competing for the same media market.

NOTUS, founded in 2023 by Politico co-founder Robert Allbritton, planned to expand into local news and sports under the new name. Meanwhile, Dovid Efune acquired The Washington Star trademark in 2024, launching it on Substack with plans for a custom website. Both outlets are vying for attention following The Washington Post's layoffs of more than 300 journalists.

The ruling bars NOTUS from using The Star, The Washington Star, or similar variations, including launching its new domain. However, the judge did not require removing existing online references. NOTUS lawyers argued that hundreds of media organizations have used 'Star' as a moniker for over a century.

The case continues with a hearing scheduled for July 22. Efune stated the ruling reinforces focus on 'reviving a legendary American institution' and returning needed voice to the nation's capital. NOTUS did not immediately comment on the decision.