Current:Home > BackKFC sues Church's Chicken over 'original recipe' fried chicken branding-LoTradeCoin
KFC sues Church's Chicken over 'original recipe' fried chicken branding
View Date:2024-12-23 15:29:20
When it comes to fried chicken recipes, it may be up to the courts to decide who can claim the title of having the original.
In a lawsuit filed Nov. 8 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, KFC has accused fellow fast-food fried chicken purveyor Church's Texas Chicken of violating its trademark rights by using the phrase "Original Recipe" in its advertisements and promotions.
Church's use of the phrase "original recipe" in its own advertisements "is likely to create confusion in the marketplace and dilute the ORIGINAL RECIPE® Mark," according to the lawsuit.
Two recipes, one phrase
KFC said in its filing that Church's began using "original recipe" in its marketing in September, specifically the phrase "Our original recipe is back" in television and digital advertisements.
On Oct. 24, KFC sent a letter to Church's objecting to the use of the phrase "original recipe." According to the complaint, however, that request was ignored and Church's had not responded to the letter to date.
Church's Texas Chicken declined to comment, citing active litigation.
As for the original recipe in question, "That combination of 11 herbs and spices is one of the most well-known, iconic trade secrets in the food industry," according to the complaint.
Used in advertising since 1972, KFC holds two separate trademarks for the phrase.
The company did not respond to a request for comment on the complaint from USA TODAY, but a KFC spokesperson told Reuters on Monday, "On behalf of all fried chicken lovers out there, we take it personally when another company tries to claim our iconic taste and branding as their own," adding "We remain committed to protecting our brand's intellectual property and safeguarding the experience of our customers."
Max Hauptman is a Trending Reporter for USA TODAY. He can be reached at [email protected]
veryGood! (88975)
Related
- Suicides in the US military increased in 2023, continuing a long-term trend
- Tennis Player Yulia Putintseva Apologizes for Behavior Towards Ball Girl at US Open Amid Criticism
- Prosecutors balk at Trump’s bid to delay post-conviction hush money rulings
- Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei Set on Fire in Gasoline Attack Weeks After 2024 Paris Games
- Tech consultant testifies that ‘bad joke’ led to deadly clash with Cash App founder Bob Lee
- Florida State coach Mike Norvell addresses 'failure' of stunning 0-2 start
- Lady Gaga and Fiancé Michael Polansky's Venice International Film Festival Looks Deserve All The Applause
- A man is killed and an officer shot as police chase goes from Illinois to Indiana and back
- Fighting conspiracy theories with comedy? That’s what the Onion hopes after its purchase of Infowars
- 'The Bachelorette' ex who made surprise appearance said show left out 'juicy' interview
Ranking
- See Chris Evans' Wife Alba Baptista Show Her Sweet Support at Red One Premiere
- The Bachelorette Star Jenn Tran Shares What She Packed for Her Season, Including a $5 Skincare Must-Have
- Trump says he’ll vote to uphold Florida abortion ban after seeming to signal he’d support repeal
- COVID-19 government disaster loans saved businesses, but saddled survivors with debt
- Review: 'Emilia Pérez' is the most wildly original film you'll see in 2024
- Hailey Bieber Rocks New “Mom” Ring as Justin Bieber Gets His Own Papa Swag
- Murder on Music Row: Could Kevin Hughes death be mistaken identity over a spurned lover?
- Ellen DeGeneres Returning for Last Comedy Special of Career
Recommendation
-
Trump has promised to ‘save TikTok’. What happens next is less clear
-
Tamra Judge’s Mom Roasts Her Over Her Post Cosmetic Procedure Look on Her Birthday
-
US closes 5-year probe of General Motors SUV seat belt failures due to added warranty coverage
-
Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei Set on Fire in Gasoline Attack Weeks After 2024 Paris Games
-
Elena Rose has made hits for JLo, Becky G and more. Now she's stepping into the spotlight.
-
Real Housewives of Dubai Reunion Trailer Teases a Sugar Daddy Bombshell & Blood Bath Drama
-
Lady Gaga and Fiancé Michael Polansky's Venice International Film Festival Looks Deserve All The Applause
-
When is NFL Week 1? Full schedule for opening week of 2024 regular season