Taco Bell and Taco John’s.Photo:Shutterstock / JJava Designs, Shutterstock / Retail Photographer
Shutterstock / JJava Designs, Shutterstock / Retail Photographer
Taco Tuesdays are now for everyone.
Taco Bell.Shutterstock / GarethWilley
Shutterstock / GarethWilley
For 34 years, Taco John’s has owned the trademark for “Taco Tuesday” in 49 states, excluding New Jersey. (Gregory’s Restaurant and Bar owns it in Somers Point, N.J.) Taco John’s has used the saying to market their food and has sent cease-and-desist letters to others trying to use it.
Then, in May, Taco Bell filed a petition with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office, claiming that the phrase “should be freely available to all who make, sell, eat and celebrate tacos.”
“Nobody should have exclusive rights in a common phrase,” Taco Bell said in their petition.
Instead of spending money to protect the trademark, per CNN, Creel promised to donate $40,000 to Children of Restaurant Employees (CORE), a non-profit organization supporting employees in the food and beverage industry with kids.
Taco Bell’s CEO, Mark King, tells PEOPLE in a statement that “this is a shared victory with taco allies everywhere.”
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Taco John’s.Shutterstock / Retail Photographer
Shutterstock / Retail Photographer
Trademark battles among fast food chains is not uncommon. In April,Chipotlefiled a lawsuit againstSweetgreenfor trademark infringement regarding a menu item:a Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl. They ultimatelyrenamedthe dish the Chicken + Chipotle Pepper Bowl.
source: people.com
