Fuck Taco Bell. Taco Bell only won because Taco John’s didn’t have deep enough pockets to defend the trademarked term they legally had.
Look, fuck the gross Yum Brands mega conglomerate, but the idea that someone could own the trademark to “Taco Tuesday” is fucking ridiculous.
What makes it fucking stupid? Is it because it reaches a critical mass of usage, so the people get to take it back? Something else?
As an aside, I have a new product idea: Zoidberg’s Super Bowl of Cereal: I’m Lovin’ It!
Is it because it reaches a critical mass of usage, so the people get to take it back?
It’s not my point but that’s literally how it legally works in the US. That’s why Velcro insists on calling their product “Velcro brand hook and loop fastener”
It’s a food item and a day of the week.
Yeah, “super bowl” also shouldn’t be trade marked, It’s far too generalized to be reasonable. Zoidberg should be as that is a character in a show and should be claimed by the creators with exception given to people whom have that name in real life referring to their own products.
I’m lovin’ it also shouldn’t be trademarked. It’s literally just an expression of joy.
I don’t get why this has to be a difficult concept. McDonald’s didn’t create anything new. The NFL didn’t fabricate the concept of extraordinary dishware. It is absolutely nonsense that anyone with enough money and influence can just choose a couple pre-existing words out of the English language and claim ownership.
No, Taco Bell won because WHO THE FUCK IS TACO JOHN’S AND WHY THE FUCK DO THEY OWN TACO TUESDAY?
Did you know that two companies had ownership of that trademark? Does anyone associate “Taco Tuesday” with anything but being alliterative? Do people immediately think of Taco John’s or Gregory’s when they hear “Taco Tuesday?”
No.
They probably think of every elementary school that had a Taco Tuesday at least once a month. They probably think of the Lego Movie. They probably think they’re hilarious and just made it up for the first time.
Even if you knew of Taco John’s and knew they had Taco Tuesday, did you know that it was their trademark?
Taco John’s did not relinquish the mark because they couldn’t fight it. They relinquished it for the same reason Gregory’s did… they knew their claim to the mark was MINIMAL at best and it would be trivial to show common usage of the term that would render it generic.
You mean everyone that lives in a state where this regional restaurant operates.
https://www.scrapehero.com/store/wp-content/uploads/maps/Taco_Johns_USA.png
The nearest one is 400 miles away from me.
They should have never been granted the trademark based on prioriry. They did not coin or use the term first. They are not fighting because they know they wouldn’t survive a challenge which is why they just bullied small shops who themselves didn’t have the pockets to defend themselves.
I don’t think that’s what happened? Based on this article and another one I read, it seems that now the Taco Tuesday trademark is relinquished meaning anyone can use it. I’m guessing taco bell would rather everyone be able to use it including them rather than it being locked down by someone who’s not them.
Indeed that was the case:
According to The Strange History of Taco Tuesday, the promotional phrase was started in 1982 by a chain called Taco John’s based out of Cheyenne, Wyoming. In fact, Taco John’s placed a registered trademark on the phrase in 1989 to attach it to their brand. They filed a lawsuit against another restaurant chain after seeing that it was used, but the lawsuit resulted in bad press, so they have stopped enforcing their trademark. They still use it as their brand’s signature, and rightfully so!
https://bennystacos.com/taco-tuesday-legendary-tradition/
So Taco John gave up the trademark and now any restaurant can advertise “Taco Tuesday” specials.
