Vermont artist sued by Chik-fil-A over his ‘eat more kale’ slogan

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

A Vermont folk artist, Bo Muller-Moore, is ready to stand in the face of Chick-fil-A who is fighting him for his “Eat More Kale” slogan. The fast food franchise is claiming that his slogan clashes with their “Eat mor chikin” trademarked phrase.

In a letter, a Chick-fil-A lawyer says that Muller-Moore’s slogan “eat more kale,” “is likely to cause confusion of the public and dilutes the distinctiveness of Chick-fil-A’s intellectual property and diminishes its value,” reports the Associated Press.

This is not the first time Chick-fil- A tries to warn Muller- Moore. Five years ago, he received a cease-and desist letter just like the one he recently received from the privately held and independently owned franchise.

Back then, a pro-bono lawyer corresponded back and forth with the fast food chain and when the letters stopped, Muller-Moore assumed the problem was solved and continued about his business, reports the Associated Press.

Muller-Moore originally began printing the slogan on T-shirts when a kale farmer friend of his asked him to make $10 T-shirts for his family members. His slogan gained popularity so he expanded his silkscreen business on the internet, reports the AP.

“It became popular enough that I handed round green bumper stickers as my business card,” said Muller Moore to The Christian Post.

Muller-Moore applied for a trademark for his phrase last summer and believes that the franchise became aware of the situation again because of this. In their latest letter, Chick-fil-A asks the artist to withdraw the trademark request.

“Bo’s is a very different statement,” said Muller-Moore’s lawyer Daniel Richardson to the AP. “It’s more of a philosophical statement about local agriculture and community supported farmers markets. “At the end of the day, I don’t think anyone will step forward and say they bought an ‘eat more kale’ shirt thinking it was a Chick-fil-A product.”

Chick-Fil-A’s spokesperson said that the franchise does not comment on a pending legal issue, reports the AP.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/money/vermont-artist-sued-chik-fil-a-eat-kale-slogan-article-1.984016#ixzz1f7xadPm1

[Harsh_77 716]

I read this article yesterday and it is so BOGUS case. Now one cannot use anything that uses “Eat More…..” coz Chik-Fil-A does not want this sentence to be used by anyone.

On top of it the guy who is using the phrase “Eat more Kale” is not even in business of selling fast food.

So I have no idea why “Chik-Fil-A” thinks their customer would be confused and would mislead their customer.

[SMR 368]

Am I the only one who has never even heard the "Eat more Chikin" slogan? I certainly wouldn't associate it with Chik-fil-A.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Am I the only one who has never even heard the "Eat more Chikin" slogan? I certainly wouldn't associate it with Chik-fil-A.

I've never heard of it either. I've never eaten at a Chik-fil-A though.

[^_^ 5,021]

If none of you have heard of it, maybe they have a point... this douchebag is ruining their brand!!!

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I have heard of kale. Never ate it, but I heard of it.

[Ban Hammer 12,836]

I've never eaten at a Chik-fil-A though.

you are not missing much.

[Misha & Ira 113]

As fast food goes, I like Chik-fil-A. When you work hard to build brand awareness it is easy to feel threatened when you see copy-cats...

On the other hand....a few people who have never heard of Chik-fil-A now have...

Edited November 29, 2011 by Misha & Ira

[SMR 368]

As fast food goes, I like Chik-fil-A. When you work hard to build brand awareness it is easy to feel threatened when you see copy-cats...

On the other hand....a few people who have never heard of Chik-fil-A now have...

I'd heard of Chik-fil-A, just not the "eat more..." slogan. But if you are trying to build more brand awareness, you need something unique. That's what makes this whole thing ridiculous. If you add in the unique spelling of chicken, you might have some brand equity to defend. But the phrase "eat more..." is so ubiquitous that trying to build brand equity around it is absurd. If Chik-fil-A wins thus it will be a sad statement about the condition of the courts and legal profession in America.

[Misha & Ira 113]

It's everywhere here in the South...I have even seen it during the Super Bowl

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chick-fil-A

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

I think the lawsuit would probably carry if the guy had poor spelling.

[Penguin_ie 5,985]

**** Moving from P/R to Off Topic ****

I like Chick-fil-A. They have nice, clean play areas and even though I am not Christian, I kinda like that they are closed Sunday. I think this is a storm-in-a-teacup though, the two slogans are different enough and about different enough items that there isn't a copycat issue. Still, free PR for both of them...

[Darnell 8,478]

Telebay vs EBay ?

Eat More Kale vs Eat More Chikin ?

grrr.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/92625/in-vermont-fighting-for-rights-to-eat-more/

[elmcitymaven 9,711]

I have heard of kale. Never ate it, but I heard of it.

It's delicious! Especially when cooked with bacon.