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September 14. 2012 12:40AM
St. Anselm in court to challenge institute's name
St. Anselm College has gone to court to try to stop a Republican state representative from holding debates and promoting conservative-leaning causes under the name “Granite State Institute of Politics.”
The Goffstown college said the name of the organization is too close to the “New Hampshire Institute of Politics,” its nonpartisan, 11-year-old institute that is designed to foster political discourse, host presidential debates and draw national political figures to its campus.
St. Anselm College said it feels the image of its institute will be tarnished if people associate it with partisan activity. In July, the Granite State Institute held a debate among Republican primary candidates that featured a defeat-Obama rally.
The founder of the for-profit Granite State Institute of Politics, Rep. John Burt, R-Goffstown, said people won’t confuse the names. Burt obtained a trade name for his organization two years ago through the New Hampshire Secretary of State.
In a suit filed in Hillsborough County Superior Court last week, the college asks a judge to issue both a temporary and a permanent injunction against Burt prohibiting use of “Granite State Institute of Politics.”
He has hired a lawyer and plans to fight the effort.
“John (Burt’s) feeling from the beginning was the names are materially different from each other, and that he should not be required to change his trade name,” said Paul R. Kfoury Sr., his lawyer.
He said Burt looks to promote “more of a Republican agenda” with his institute, but is open to other points of view. Past events include a book signing, and he hopes to book speakers in the future.
Granite State Institute events have taken place at a downtown hotel, and Burt wants to hold future debates in five or six other locations across the state, Kfoury said.
He said that the full, registered trade name of the St. Anselm College organization is The New Hampshire Institute of Politics at St. Anselm College.
St. Anselm College’s lawyer said confusion will take place. He points out that even a headline in the New Hampshire Union Leader two months ago confused the organizations.
“The terms Granite State and New Hampshire are in many people’s minds synonymous,” said William Tucker, who is representing the college.
He said St. Anselm College is very careful to preserve a nonpartisan reputation, which helps it attract speakers and candidates.
“The college doesn’t take any position. It is as nonpartisan as you can get,” he said.
In June 2010, the Secretary of State accepted Burt’s application and allowed him to register the trade name. Ten days later, the office wrote Burt, told him of the possible conflict, warned him of potential litigation and offered to let him change the name free of charge.
In May 2012, the Secretary of State again wrote Burt, telling him of the conflict and once again offering to let him change the name.
Mark Hayward may be reached at mhayward@unionleader.com.
The Goffstown college said the name of the organization is too close to the “New Hampshire Institute of Politics,” its nonpartisan, 11-year-old institute that is designed to foster political discourse, host presidential debates and draw national political figures to its campus.
St. Anselm College said it feels the image of its institute will be tarnished if people associate it with partisan activity. In July, the Granite State Institute held a debate among Republican primary candidates that featured a defeat-Obama rally.
The founder of the for-profit Granite State Institute of Politics, Rep. John Burt, R-Goffstown, said people won’t confuse the names. Burt obtained a trade name for his organization two years ago through the New Hampshire Secretary of State.
In a suit filed in Hillsborough County Superior Court last week, the college asks a judge to issue both a temporary and a permanent injunction against Burt prohibiting use of “Granite State Institute of Politics.”
He has hired a lawyer and plans to fight the effort.
“John (Burt’s) feeling from the beginning was the names are materially different from each other, and that he should not be required to change his trade name,” said Paul R. Kfoury Sr., his lawyer.
He said Burt looks to promote “more of a Republican agenda” with his institute, but is open to other points of view. Past events include a book signing, and he hopes to book speakers in the future.
Granite State Institute events have taken place at a downtown hotel, and Burt wants to hold future debates in five or six other locations across the state, Kfoury said.
He said that the full, registered trade name of the St. Anselm College organization is The New Hampshire Institute of Politics at St. Anselm College.
St. Anselm College’s lawyer said confusion will take place. He points out that even a headline in the New Hampshire Union Leader two months ago confused the organizations.
“The terms Granite State and New Hampshire are in many people’s minds synonymous,” said William Tucker, who is representing the college.
He said St. Anselm College is very careful to preserve a nonpartisan reputation, which helps it attract speakers and candidates.
“The college doesn’t take any position. It is as nonpartisan as you can get,” he said.
In June 2010, the Secretary of State accepted Burt’s application and allowed him to register the trade name. Ten days later, the office wrote Burt, told him of the possible conflict, warned him of potential litigation and offered to let him change the name free of charge.
In May 2012, the Secretary of State again wrote Burt, telling him of the conflict and once again offering to let him change the name.
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Mark Hayward may be reached at mhayward@unionleader.com.
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