Report: Atlanta BeltLine Inc. interested in discussing dispute with Facebook page owner

Another media outlet has followed up on Atlanta Loop’s story about Jessie Fream’s fight to keep using the word Beltline in the name of her Facebook group.
As Atlanta Loop first reported, Atlanta BeltLine Inc. contacted Fream about her “Humans of the Atlanta BeltLine” Facebook group to inform her that the BeltLine name is trademarked. They have not sent her a cease and desist letter, but have sent them to other businesses, including Decaturish.com, the parent company of Atlanta Loop. This site was originally going to be called Beltline News, but the Cease and Desist forced the name change.
The Beltline, a 22-mile trail, is owned by the public and ABI is a public entity. ABI the registered owner of several Beltline-related trademarks.
CBS 46 has followed up with ABI, which has indicated they’re willing to sit down to talk with Fream about her use of the name. The network interviewed a local attorney who defended ABI’s defense of it’s trademark.
“The only way they can protect the word ‘Beltline’ … is to be consistent about it,” the attorney said. “Whenever they see someone using it without authority they have to call in the lawyers, they have to send out the letters.”
However, an investigation by Atlanta Loop shows that ABI has been inconsistent about enforcing its trademark over the years.
Here is the full story from CBS:
Other media outlets have picked up on the original story, including the Atlanta Journal Constitution and Creative Loafing.
Until the matter is resolved, Atlanta Loop has offered to publish Fream’s feature under the name, “Humans of the Glorified Sidewalk.”