Glasgow-based agency McLaurin PR, whose name and logo bear a
striking resemblance to the better known London-based MacLaurin Group,
has changed its name.
Brian MacLaurin, chairman of the London agency, was surprised to hear of
the name change. Three years ago, after noticing the resemblance, Brian
MacLaurin wrote to the Glasgow agency to point out the name clash. He
received a stiff letter saying that the agency, which handles consumer
and business-to-business accounts, would retain its name. MacLaurin saw
no competition or threat from the agency and took no further action.
In a press release on its name change, the Glasgow agency explained that
the change was made as part of its ’strategy for growth’. Over the
telephone, joint MD Katherine McCudden happily admitted that ’one of the
reasons we changed our name was because of the MacLaurin Group’.
Particularly as the group opened a Glasgow office last year.
All well and good. Except that the agency’s new name, Bright PR, sounds
remarkably similar to London-based agency Brighter PR. Whoops!
McCudden was shocked to hear that her company’s new name clashed again
despite four months of checking. ’We thought we had done everything
possible to make sure this did not happen again,’ she said.
