Small pub 1 KFC 0

[neds atomic dustbin]

Originally Posted by BBC news

KFC licked by pub in menu fight

An American fast food giant has backed down in a row with a North Yorkshire country inn amid claims the pub is using one of its trademark phrases.

The Tan Hill Inn, the highest pub in England, had been told by Kentucky Fried Chicken to remove the words "family feast" from its menu.

KFC's lawyers said the company had registered the wording as a trademark.
But hours later the American firm's lawyers decided not to pursue the issue of the pub's meal description.

KFC's lawyers were first alerted to the use of the phrase by the pub, which stands 1,700 feet (520m) above sea level, after finding a reference to it on the inn's website.

April Fool's

The Tan Hill's owners then received a letter asking them not to use the "family feast" description for the festive meal, which includes Guinness and stilton pate, roast turkey and Christmas pudding.

Owner Tracy Daly said she thought the original letter was a late April Fool's joke.


But on Thursday Ms Daly was contacted by the fast food firm's representatives and told of the change of heart.

"They have very kindly said we can continue using the name.

"Common sense has prevailed. I'm very relieved and ecstatic.

"I'm not going to need my boxing gloves anymore. I've invited KFC to come here and have a meal and shake hands."

A spokeswoman for KFC said: "KFC has to protect its trademarks against those who seek to trade off its brand.

"KFC has spoken to Mrs Daly at the Tan Hill Inn and confirmed that it will not take this case any further.

"This means that Mrs Daly can continue to use the phrase 'family feast' on the pub's Christmas menu.

"It's an unusual situation that has been blown out of all proportion."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/n...re/6644177.stm

This was on the local news yesterday about KFC wanting to tak the small pub up in North Yorkshire to court over the words "Family feast".

Now is it me or does this smack of bullying by the big multi million fast food stores?

[TKDMitch]

TheTan Hil is a top pub, though it was chuffing freezing when I camped there in January a few years ago.

And absolutely beautiful looking across snow encrusted hills, on a bright moonlit night at 2.00am through a thick blanket of Old Peculier

They also ban mobile phones.

Mitch

[medi]

Originally Posted by Immolation

Now is it me or does this smack of bullying by the big multi million fast food stores?

Since they're letting them use the name, no, it doesn't.

[neds atomic dustbin]

Originally Posted by medi

Since they're letting them use the name, no, it doesn't.

but is it not a bullying of useage of the English language? They claim that KFC can use the term Family Feast, and yet they "allow" a small pub to use something that is just two words from out language and they have them copyrighted?

Would McDonalds do the same if a whiskey cam from a Scottish company bearing the name? Can you copyright words or just the idea?

[medi]

Originally Posted by Immolation

but is it not a bullying of useage of the English language? They claim that KFC can use the term Family Feast, and yet they "allow" a small pub to use something that is just two words from out language and they have them copyrighted?

Would McDonalds do the same if a whiskey cam from a Scottish company bearing the name? Can you copyright words or just the idea?

As I understand it, trademarks are only applied within the field covered by the trademark owner.

i.e. a whiskey distiller wouldn't be stealing market share from McDonald's hamburgers, so they could get away with it.

[holyheadjch]

What probably happened is some low level lawyer sent the cease order, it eventually got seen by their supervisor, they realised how petty it was and dropped it.