Friday, August 23, 2019

Battle of the Chip Dip — “Bob Armstrong Dip” Lawsuit

Originally published by Klemchuk LLP.

 

matts-el-rancho-bob-armstrong-dip-lawsuit.jpg

 

Matt’s El Rancho Bob Armstrong Dip Trademark Infringement Lawsuit

Matt’s El Rancho (“Matt’s”), a Tex-Mex restaurant located in Austin, filed suit in late June against Horseshoe Hill Cowboy Café (“Horseshoe”) in Fort Worth, and its founder, Grady Spears, for infringing its BOB ARMSTRONG DIP trademark (Reg. No. 5,135,570).

Is Bob Armstrong Dip Trademarkable?

In its complaint, Matt’s notes that it has offered its infamous Bob Armstrong Dip appetizer since 1986. The appetizer was created by Matt’s and given the name “Bob Amstrong” after the Texas politician, Robert Landis Armstrong, who allegedly frequented the restaurant and actually asked the chef to make an appetizer that was not originally on the menu. The chef, Matt Jr., created the Bob Armstrong Dip for Armstrong, but the item became a hit and has appeared as a signature menu item ever since. Given the item’s success, Matt’s acquired a registration for BOB ARMSTRONG DIP with a date of first use in November of 1986 and a registration date of February 7, 2017.

Matt’s El Rancho Files Trademark Infringement Suit

According to Matt’s, in February of 2018, the restaurant discovered that Horseshoe was using the trademark on its menu. In March, counsel for Matt’s sent a cease-and-desist letter to Horseshoe noting Matt’s registered mark and requesting for Horseshoe to stop using the mark. After a verbal agreement over the phone between counsel for Matt’s and Spears that Horseshoe would cease using the mark, Matt’s alleges that Horseshoe continued to use the mark on its menu.

After sending follow-up letters and e-mails, Matt’s ultimately decided to file suit against Horseshoe and Spears for infringement of the BOB ARMSTRONG mark.

According to the lawsuit, Matt’s seeks the following from the defendants:

  1. enter judgment for Matt’s El Rancho on all of its claims;

  2. preliminarily and permanently enjoin Defendants from using the mark BOB ARMSTRONG DIP and any other confusingly similar marks;

  3. award Matt’s El Rancho all monetary remedies to which it is entitled under federal and Texas law, including all profits realized by Defendants (adjusted upward as the Court deems just), all damages (trebled) sustained by Matt’s El Rancho, exemplary damages, and nominal damages;

  4. order the seizure and destruction of all items and materials in Defendants’ possession, custody, or control that use the mark BOB ARMSTRONG DIP or any other confusingly similar mark;

  5. award Matt’s El Rancho its costs and reasonable attorney’s fees; and

  6. award any other relief the Court deems just and proper.

Click to access the Bob Armstrong Dip lawsuit and BOB ARMSTRONG DIP trademark registration.

For more insights on trademark infringement issues, see our Trademark Services Overview and Restaurants Industry Legal Solutions.

Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates.

Thank you!



Sign up for and explore our content and thought leadership here.


About the Firm:

Klemchuk LLP is a litigation, intellectual property, transactional, and international business law firm dedicated to protecting innovation. The firm provides tailored legal solutions to industries including software, technology, retail, real estate, consumer goods, ecommerce, telecommunications, restaurant, energy, media, and professional services. The firm focuses on serving mid-market companies seeking long-term, value-added relationships with a law firm. Learn more about experiencing law practiced differently and our local counsel practice.

The firm publishes Intellectual Property Trends (latest developments in IP law), Conversations with Innovators (interviews with thought leaders), Leaders in Law (insights from law leaders), Culture Counts (thoughts on law firm culture and business), and Legal Insights (in-depth analysis of IP, litigation, and transactional law).

Curated by Texas Bar Today. Follow us on Twitter @texasbartoday.



from Texas Bar Today https://ift.tt/2HmAp0y
via Abogado Aly Website

No comments:

Post a Comment