I’m being sued by Vogue for my very common pub name – they think punters will get confused but it’s ridiculous
A CORNISH pub landlord was stunned to receive a letter from Vogue threatening to sue him over the common name of his 200-year-old pub.
Truro-born Mark Graham, 60, thought a local was playing a prank on him when he got a “cease and desist” letter through the post from the top fashion magazine.
The COO of Condé Nast, which owns Vogue, had written to raise concerns about the name of Mark’s pub - .
The 200-year-old alehouse sits in the tiny - and even older - hamlet of Vogue that blends into the village of St Day, near Redruth in Cornwall.
But the magazine top dog was worried fashion fans might get confused by the name and think there’s a connection between the stylish title and the Cornish boozer.
Mark was flabbergasted - the little family business that he has owned and run with his wife Rachel for 17 years is hardly similar to the swanky New York brand.
The pub is dog-friendly, serves hearty food daily and has a large beer garden at the back.
Reviews on Facebook praise the place, with one punter commenting, “lovely relaxed atmosphere, very good food and really cosy”.
So at first Mark thought the complaint was a practical joke from someone in the tiny village.
The Royal Navy veteran and former Cornish tin miner told : “When I opened the letter I thought some b***er in the village was having me on. Surely these people can’t be serious.
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“In this modern day and age someone couldn’t be bothered to go onto Google and see that Vogue is a Cornish hamlet that’s been here for hundreds of years.
“It seems common sense has taken a backseat on this one.”
The letter demanded more information about the village watering-hole and asked that none of its imagery resembles the Vogue brand.
Mark showed Cornwall Live the correspondence from Condé Nast’s chief operating officer, Sabine Vandenbroucke.
In the letter, she said: “Our company is the proprietor of the Vogue mark, not only for its world-famous magazine first published in November 1916 but in respect of other goods and services offered to the public by our company.
“We are concerned that the name which you are using is going to cause problems because as far as the general public is concerned a connection between your business and ours is likely to be inferred.”
She added at the end: “Please reply within seven days or we will take remedial action.”
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Mark could not believe his eyes after reading the formal note - but then he had to laugh.
He snapped photos of the pub’s branding as well as street signs in the hamlet, sending off a witty reply to the magazine’s London offices.
He said: “Whilst I found your letter interesting on the one hand, I also found it hilariously funny.
"I presume your magazine bases its name on the dictionary term for being in fashion which is uncapitalised as used in the Oxford English Dictionary.
“If a member of your staff had taken the time to investigate they would have discovered that our company, the Star Inn, is in the small village of Vogue, near St Day, Cornwall.
“Yes, that’s right, Vogue is the name of our village, which has been in existence for hundreds of years and in fact is a Cornish word, not English."
You didn’t seek permission from the villagers of the real Vogue.
Mark Graham
He added: “I note in your letter that you have only been in existence since 1916 and I presume that at the time when you chose the name Vogue in the capitalised version you didn’t seek permission from the villagers of the real Vogue.
“I also presume that Madonna did not seek your permission to use the word Vogue (again the capitalised version) for her 1990s song of the same name.
"You are both at liberty to use the uncapitalised version without our permission. As a side note she didn’t seek our permission either.”
In the end he said: “In answer to your question whether we would change our name, it is a categorical NO.”
Now other villagers in Vogue have rallied together to make a joke out of the magazine's request.
Mark said: "The locals have now been coming up with unique ideas to get our own back.
They want me to start a parish magazine called 'vogue magazine'.
"The latest idea is also we want to do a fashion week, 'Vogue fashion week', and get a big letterhead made, and then invite all the major magazines and companies to visit us.
"Everyone is willing to chip in, it's become a really funny local story."
Locals reacted with the same humour as Mark.
Stephanie Russell said: "You’re kidding, surely."
Louise Knowles said: "Is it April Fools day?"
Irene Hazel Smith added: "How can they sue when its been known as Vogue for hundreds of years, pathetic.
"Its our village heritage."
And Joanne Lello Dunn said: "I’m actually speechless for once.
"But Mark you are an absolute legend and we love your response."
Mark only received a reply from Vogue today.
I'll represent myself, stand up there and watch them make absolute fools of themselves
Mark Graham
He said: "I thought Conde Naste was being heavy handed.
"So I sent them a letter back with me being heavy handed too.
"I'm not worried they're a massive company - I'm hoping they take me to court.
"I'll represent myself, stand up there and watch them make absolute fools of themselves when they realise we were there first.
"We're thinking about taking them to court to get them to stop using the word vogue with a capital V.
"I responded to their letter within the seven day period as I was asked.
"But they haven't replied to me."
He added: "My message to Vogue is it just needs a little common sense.
"In this day and age someone can Google it and see we're not going to cause any trouble to Vogue magazine.
"They should do their research.
"They have hundreds maybe thousands of people working for them - versus just me and my wife."
Christopher P. Donnelan replied on behalf of Vogue in a letter to Mark today, backtracking on the original threat.
He said: "Dear Mark and Rachel, Many thanks for your letter dated 15 March 2022 and for responding with more information about your business and the hamlet of Vogue.
"We were grateful for your response and to learn more about your business in this beautiful part of our country.
"I am sure you will appreciate why we regularly monitor use of the name VOGUE, including at Companies House (which is how we were alerted to your company name).
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"However, you are quite correct to note that further research by our team would have identified that we did not need to send such a letter on this occasion.
"Everyone at Conde Nast wishes you and everyone in Vogue best wishes for a happy summer, and for your upcoming "American Night" on 18 May."
