KFC sues Church’s Chicken for using ‘original recipe’ in new ads

Deflate in court

Few fast food chains are as brand conscious as KFC. So, when developing a new marketing campaign, it is best to avoid going through their entire territory.

Church’s Chicken did the opposite, and because of it, the fried chicken chain found itself facing a juicy lawsuit.

What is Church’s Chicken?

Although Church’s has existed in Texas since the 1950s, it took about two decades before it moved to new locations. West Coasters may not know it as well as Southerners, but Church’s has a strong presence in the United States, with nearly 1,000 stores and another 500 in 25 other countries.

Why is KFC suing Church’s Chicken?

Church’s Chicken recently began advertising a new chicken, boasting that it has returned to the “original recipe.” This is what KFC calls their fried chicken, in reference to Harland Sanders’ original recipe.

“On behalf of all fried chicken lovers, we take it personally when another company tries to take over our iconic taste and brand,” a KFC spokesperson told Reuters. “We remain committed to protecting our brand’s intellectual property and safeguarding our customers’ experiences.”

When was KFC branded “Original Recipe?” »

This brand is actually 40 years old, so it’s pretty crazy that Church managed to ignore this one. In 1984, KFC began using “Original Recipe” to refer to the company’s famous blend of 11 herbs and spices.

It seems impossible that Church doesn’t know this.

What are the details of the trial?

KFC alleges that Church’s is violating trademark rights with the phrase “Original Recipe.”

The Colonel also alleges that on October 24, KFC sent a letter of objection to Church’s. This was apparently ignored, so here we are. Full details of the claim can be viewed here.

Is KFC worried about money or something?

This is a pretty reasonable lawsuit since it’s the basis of the entire KFC brand, but KFC’s sales are down 5% after a series of declining quarters. Maybe there is some desperation to be felt in all this.

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This article was originally published on Cheapism

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