BS: KFC Steal the dictionary

Subject: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Doktor Doktor
Date: 10 May 07 - 06:08 AM

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

Silly spat but raises an interesting point - if I write the "Family Feast" song, will they sue? If I sing "Old McDonald's Farm" and accidentally miss the "A" am I bound for the courts?

Have the Trademark & Copyright laws become an assault on freedom? Can the Money Men steal our language because they're the ones with the money?

I think a protest song is required here - any volunteers?

PS is it true that they call themselves KFC now because the Commonwealth of Kentucky trademarked the "K" word ?

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: GUEST,Paul Burke
Date: 10 May 07 - 07:01 AM

I think K Effin' C will try to bully them on this one, as they haven't really a case. They'd be unlikely to win in a court of law, as it's a plain unadorned Standard English phrase. So "Finger Lickin' Good" could be protected, being an uncommon phrase and dropping the G, but "Very Good" couldn't be.

I suspect that KFC renamed themselves because they CAN'T copyright "Kentucky". So any other Kentucky based firm could quite legitimately call themselves Kentucky Chicken, or Kentucky Fried Pet Food.

McDonald's of course try this abuse all the time; here's a case where their bullying lost: McBrat

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 10 May 07 - 07:40 AM

I have taken out a copyright on the words "a", "the", "and" "but" and, to be on the safe side "Rhinocerous".

So, come on. start paying up...

:D

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: GUEST
Date: 10 May 07 - 08:23 AM

D.P. - you have to spell it right.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 10 May 07 - 08:27 AM

My father's business, started in the 1970's, was called D&G Shopfitters. About 10 years ago some Italian rag-trade set up called Dolce and Gabbana, wrote to him and threatened to sue him if he continued to use the name which was duly registered at Companies House. He wrote back asking how anyone could possibly confuse a clothing company with shopfitters and offered to sell them the company. He heard nothing more from them.

I wonder if they tried the same thing with Dagenham and Goresbrook garages who use the same initials? They still seem to be around.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: BuckMulligan
Date: 10 May 07 - 09:03 AM

I suspect KFC renamed themselves to eliminate an upfront use of the word "fired" which over the past 30 years has come to be equated with "nasty and unhealthy." As far as "family feast" is concerned, they are unlikely to get anywhere, IMO, because as has been pointed out, it's not a distinctive phrase - too much plain vanilla.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Mrrzy
Date: 10 May 07 - 09:06 AM

Hee hee - that's "fried" - Works better your way, though!

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Sorcha
Date: 10 May 07 - 09:09 AM

OK, I'm copyrighting 'chicken'. It's MINE I say, and nobody else can use it, so don't EVER say 'tastes like chicken' again, you hear me???

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 10 May 07 - 09:12 AM

I know how to spell 'it', Guest. I. T. - I haven't copywritted that though.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 May 07 - 09:58 AM

I've applied for a copyright on the letter e

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Bill D
Date: 10 May 07 - 10:28 AM

Thn you won't hav any problms with my splling tchniqu.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Bill D
Date: 10 May 07 - 10:30 AM

I'm gonna tak 'X', thn whn anyon promots anything X ratd, I rak in th big bucks!

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 May 07 - 11:20 AM

Hbrw gts lng wtht ny vwls dsnt t? The thg tht wld mn rl prblms wld b nt hvng an "I"...

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Doktor Doktor
Date: 10 May 07 - 11:22 AM

Oi! I just pat*nt*d "I"

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: JennyO
Date: 10 May 07 - 12:14 PM

nd   js pnd h lr "t"

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: danensis
Date: 10 May 07 - 04:00 PM

So how come a certain well known software company could copyright "Windows"? I've had them in my house long before Gates came along.

Heh heh, gates - I wonder if Cannock Gates could sue Bill?

Thinking about it, my wife was called Sue, I wonder if I could use the evidence of her birth certificate to sue lawyers?

John

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: gnu
Date: 10 May 07 - 05:17 PM

Oh my! Perhaps they could get the rights to, "Shit through a screen door and not touch a wire.", as well?

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: GUEST,petr
Date: 10 May 07 - 05:21 PM

a lot of people think KFC changed its name to avoid the word 'fried' because of the unhealthy implications. The truth was actually that the state of Kentucky copyrighted the name and required anyone using "Kentucky" to pay a royalty - thats why KFC changed the name.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 May 07 - 05:26 PM

KFC has announced that they will no longer use trans fats after-- (forgotten, but it was in the Times). I guess their patent application failed.
Since fried became a dirty word, all mention of Kentucky Fried Chicken has been dropped; now they advertize "Original Recipe" (registered trademark) chicken.

The world's largest restaurent system, operating as "Yum! Brands, Inc.," operating KFC, A&W, Long John Silver's, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, All-American Food and .....

From now on, Yum Yum in the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta must be dressed as a potato known as Yam Yam.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Rog Peek
Date: 10 May 07 - 05:34 PM

A small company in Bristol, repairing and restoring mini cars and calling themselves The Bristiol Mini Centre were ordered by BMW not to use the term 'Mini' in their company name.

They now advertise themselves as BMC Bristol.(formerly The Bristol Mini Centre).

Good for them I say!

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 May 07 - 05:51 PM

Does the F in KFC actually stand for "fried"? How disappointing.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Don Firth
Date: 10 May 07 - 05:53 PM

I'm not so sure that KFC could even get away with claiming "finger-linkin' good" as a proprietary phrase. That expression, for anything especially tasty, was pretty common, especially in the south, long before Col. Saunders came along.

At one point in the early Sixties, at least nineteen different individuals and music publishers claimed a copyright on "Greensleeves." It's all bluff, of course. If you're dumb enough to pay them royalties or to "cease and desist" just because they say so, they'll take it.

Let the buggers haul you into court (if they're stupid enough to try) and see how far they get.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 May 07 - 05:55 PM

McGrath- it did, but the word has been expunged from 'history' on their website. KFC now is just that- KFC.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Bill D
Date: 10 May 07 - 06:21 PM

They can call it anything they like...it ain't what it used to be!

(Years ago, after Col. Sanders had sold the rights, KFC hired him back as a roving ambassador and 'inspector'. That ended when he popped into one restaurant, tasted the chicken, and promptly told them out loud, in public, that they had screwed up the recipe it didn't taste right and they ought to close! I think it was mutual agreement that he would no longer be personally associated with the 'altered' product.)

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 10 May 07 - 07:16 PM

AAAARGH.

Will people who wish to comment on intellectual property issues please learn the differences between
1. Copyright
2. Trade Marks
3. Passing Off
4. Patents
5. England and/or the UK
6. America and its various states?

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Bainbo
Date: 10 May 07 - 07:16 PM

OK. Some have suggested that Kentucky Fried Chicken became KFC because they couldn't use the word "Kentucky"; others that it was because they wanted to avoid use of the word "fried". Isn't it more likely to be the C-word that they can't use, because there's so litttle real chicken in it?

(sits back to await writs for breach of copyright from KFC, the State of Kentucky, and the Chicken Marketing Board for using all those words)

A few years ago, Jasper Carrot (British folksinger-cum-comedian) suggested that KFC actually stood for Kan't Find the Chicken.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 May 07 - 09:56 PM

Bainbo, no idea of the problems KFC had with their chicken in the UK, but here a bucket of their chicken was just that- chicken pieces with a thin coating, but- only sometimes fried at the proper temperature. Don't do to badly here in Alberta at present except that the buckets are sometimes made up ahead of time and kept warm, lacking the taste of chicken fresh out of the fryer.

It did take a while for the east Asian cooks here to dispense with the meat cleaver (whack! right through the bones!) and learn how to cut up chicken.

Not my favorite chicken dinner, but good once in a while for a quick, unplaned meal.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Don Firth
Date: 10 May 07 - 10:26 PM

In the head-butt between Apple Records and Apple Computers over who owned the word "apple," I think they forgot that, way back, there was this chick named Eve. . . .

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Rowan
Date: 10 May 07 - 11:45 PM

Te first Kentucky Froed Chicken outlet in Victoria (and possibly Australia) was alongside the Hume Highway, well north of Melbourne and in a rural setting. If you looked at the menu KFC (as they're now called) sold nothing but chicken. But if you asked the locals, they (Kentucky Fried Chicken) bought an awful lot of rabbits.

I prefer my underground mutton to be upfront about it.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 11 May 07 - 12:02 AM

Well, actually chicken is easier to cook than rabbit...

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 11 May 07 - 12:03 AM

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

I've been thinking this over, and I've decided I just don't believe it. Some coyote who enjoys getting other people upset probably started this.

When a firm copyrights a logo or brand name, it has to specify the color and font. You can't just take a word and say you've got the rights to it.

For example, Mattel's Barbie logo is pink in a certain swirly script. Anybody named Barbie has every right to her name as long as she doesn't make it that color pink and use that particular script. The same no doubt applies to "family feast."

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Peace
Date: 11 May 07 - 12:03 AM

I really hope SOMEone tells ol' KFC to get stuf-----hey, has anyone got a copyright on the whole alphabet?

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Peace
Date: 11 May 07 - 12:07 AM

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Gurney
Date: 11 May 07 - 01:52 AM

I'm with Leeneia, I think it's suspect, too.

Knowing the English, I should think they'd go there and order the 'Family Feast' in loud, goading voices. So it would be good advertising.

The London firm of Harrods are also sensitive about their name, and even the font that it is written in. They threatened a New Zealand firm of the same name (Owned by a man named Harrod!) and a London market-trader whose stall was called Harrods, 'arrods, and finally Arrabs. Harrods is owned by someone of middle-eastern origin.

I'm not sure if they have an apostrophe or not.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 11 May 07 - 02:06 AM

The owner of Harrods (or Horrids as it's known here) is Egyptian.

You can't wear backpacks, take photographs (flash or otherwise), videos, eat anything at all (they stare disgustedly at gum chewers) or carry a drink in your hand in the store. At one point they sold very VERY expensive ripped jeans as per the fashion, but you weren't allowed in the door wearing them. I took great pride in using a Tesco's carrier bag the last time I was there....

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: dianavan
Date: 11 May 07 - 02:35 AM

Original Recipe®, Extra Crispy™, Twister®, Crispy Strips® and Original Recipe®

Unbelievable!

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: jonm
Date: 11 May 07 - 03:14 AM

I'd like to congratulate the Tan Hill Inn on all their free publicity. Nice pub, too, folky friendly with good beers and decent food.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 11 May 07 - 03:53 AM

From an IP blog I subscribe to: -

"The IPKat thanks Sarah Harris for pointing out this BBC report that lawyers from Kentucky Fried Chicken have been making threatening noises to a country pub in North Yorkshire about the pub's description of its "family feast" menu. KFC apparently ordered the removal of the offending words, although presumably not because they own the copyright, as reported, but because of UK trade marks (here and here, for example) registered in the name of KFC.

The pub landlord used the term to describe their festive meal including Guinness and stilton pate, roast turkey and Christmas pudding.

Hot off the mark, presumably given the less than glowing press attention KFC have now backed down, as reported here. A spokesman 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", further adding, "It's an unusual situation that has been blown out of all proportion".

The IPKat knows that some US companies can be quite protective of their marks, even to the extent of attracting ridicule. In this case, the ridicule appears to be well deserved. He is surprised though that this sort of overbearing threatening behaviour was allowed to happen in the first place. Such behaviour can sometimes backfire, causing more brand damage than the action is worth, which perhaps KFC have quickly realised. A company that sells its food out of buckets apparently does care about its image more than this Kat realised."

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Mr Red
Date: 11 May 07 - 06:25 AM

didn't KFC try to bully the fish shop in Kent Rd somewheres? Kent Lucky Fried Chicken?

I always refer to them as Kent yukky Fried

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 11 May 07 - 07:31 AM

I wonder if the state or the company have ever tried to sue this bloke or any of the other blokes with the same name?

:D

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 May 07 - 09:21 AM

Isn't bullying behaviour like this some kind of criminal offence?

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Peace
Date: 11 May 07 - 09:34 AM

The Golden Arches will get nowhere with a suit of that sort. Defense counsel would have them prove that indeed their 'Family Feast' is both food fit for a family and of sufficient variety and quantity as to be a feast.

Round 2 . . . .

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 11 May 07 - 11:48 AM

Yes, but what other food outlet provides you with a bucket to puke it up into afterwards?

LTS
















Yes, I know it's old.... so am I today.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 11 May 07 - 12:23 PM

What has 'Golden Arches' to do with KFC?
Golden Arches refers to McDonald's.

A suit between those two companies would be a windfall to the law profession?

Jealousy toward success is behind most of the stories about KFC, McDonald's, Wal-Mart, etc., and, in the case of Harrod's, bigotry.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: dianavan
Date: 11 May 07 - 12:30 PM

Jealous of KFC, McDonald's and Wal-Mart? I doubt it. Thats like being jealous of a pig.

Harrod's is another story.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Amos
Date: 11 May 07 - 12:44 PM

But a very well-off pig, you admit....


A

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 11 May 07 - 01:05 PM

Call them pigs if you like, but these large companies are successful because the public likes them and shops (or eats) at them.
KFC serves 8 million customers daily, in 80 countries. There are 11,000 franchises.
In all, Yum! Brands Inc., of which KFC is a part, has 32,000 restaurants in 100 countries.
Yes, jealousy of success is behind most complaints about them.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: GUEST,petr
Date: 11 May 07 - 02:22 PM

the interesting thing about IP rights - INtellectual property rights is that the US through WTO has been getting other nations (such as South Korea) to change their IP rights laws to be in line with US laws..
(since those who stand to lose the most would be the big pharmaceutical companies and media conglomerates)
HOwever, when it comes to other countries having labour and environmental standards at the level of western developed nations, is another story..

The real issue is who benefits the most..

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Peace
Date: 11 May 07 - 02:37 PM

LOL, Q. Indeed what!

I pooched it.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 11 May 07 - 04:30 PM

finger-linkin' good could lead to a class action suit from yeople who got sick from lickin their fingers, encouraged by KFC

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Peace
Date: 11 May 07 - 06:24 PM

Could there then be spurious litigation secondary areas of economic dependency such as nail polish producers, emory board manufacturers and doctors whose income is deleteriously affected by a drop in patient numbers from 120 to 115 per hour?

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 12 May 07 - 09:52 AM

but these large companies are successful because the public likes them

Of course you could have said the same thing about Hitler. No, I'm not saying that Hitler and "these large companies" are the same thing, just that popularity doesn't mean something is admirable. Vox populi non est vox dei.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 12 May 07 - 02:17 PM

or should it be- Vox populi, vox Dei.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Big Phil
Date: 12 May 07 - 04:52 PM

Thinking of visiting the Tan Hill tommorrow for Sunday lunch. will post back regarding the quality of food, KFC / Tan Hill Pub.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 12 May 07 - 05:40 PM

'Family Feast' is trademarked in the States by "Family Feast."

http://www.the family feast.com
Family Feast

Similar service in my city offered by "Mise en place."

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 12 May 07 - 08:25 PM

English translation:

    And those people should not be listened to who keep saying the voice of the people is the voice of God, since the riotousness of the crowd is always very close to madness.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 12 May 07 - 08:50 PM

"the US through WTO has been getting other nations (such as South Korea) to change their IP rights laws to be in line with US laws.."

scored a home run with Australia recently...

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Rowan
Date: 12 May 07 - 09:16 PM

Indeed. Although there has been a lovely story about Ugg boots where the septics lost out (to use some of the common colloquialisms) to "the little Aussie battler". I forget all the byzantine story but someone (certainly Australian) took Ugg boots to the US and, when they became popular, sold what they thought was a proprietary name to the Americans. The company that bought the name decided to be a bit agressively dog in the manger about it and, successfully, shut out other competitors in the US.

Enter the internet. Some family business that has been making Ugg boots in WA (that's Western Oz for those of you between the Atlantic and Pacific) since Adam was in nappies advertised their wares on their web page and the Americans decided to prosecute in Australia as well.

After it was demonstrated that people had been making them and calling them "Ugg Boots" (in print as well as orally) before the original product was available in the US the US company still decided to come the raw prawn. A High Court decision told them to rack off as far as exercising control over the name in Oz was concerned and the family company in Oz came out ahead with all the publicity on the internet. ["Americans" don't enjoy universal acclaim because of such behaviour but, there you go; you can't win them all.] A similar family company making and selling them in the US, however, was in deep strife still when I last heard about it all.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Alice
Date: 12 May 07 - 10:12 PM

A few years back, the fashion designer Montana tried to stop businesses in the state of Montana from naming things Montana! He lost.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 12 May 07 - 11:32 PM

You can claim a copyright on ANYTHING! This includes the bible, the letter "e" or the Declaration of Independence. Won't do you any good unless you can defend it in court.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 12 May 07 - 11:52 PM

Fashion!
Montana's Cookhouse Saloon is a rather popular place here. They used to have a few items of clothing for sale. One was a well-made barn coat with leather collar; the price was low and I bought one. Embroidered across the back is "Montana's Cookhouse Saloon."
The chain is Canadian but the state of Montana hasn't sued yet.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Ebbie
Date: 13 May 07 - 12:07 AM

I'm not sure what "jealousy of success" means but the idea behind copywrite and trademark is an old one, one justified financially.

Manufacturers and organizations know well what happens when they don't defend their marks.
Like 'aspirin', 'kleenex', 'zerox', 'wellington's, and hosts of other common items that each and every one used to refer only to the one product.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 13 May 07 - 12:54 AM

vacuum.... :-)

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 13 May 07 - 01:06 AM

Bayer Aspirin (registered trademark) is protected in the United States and Canada. So are Kleenex, Kotex, and many others.
Other brands must use different names (Acetylsalicylic acid is the generic name for Aspirin) and tissue brands other than Kleenex have names like Scotties, etc.).

The fact that the public uses 'Aspirin' and 'Kleenex' and 'Kotex' and other registered trademark names is to the good for the trademark holders, although generics and other trademarked brands may be cheaper. Another one is 'Tylenol'; the generic name is acetominophen.
Many people will buy only Aspirin or Tylenol, etc., and believe that generics are inferior.
In Santa Barbara, California, I chanced to enter a drugstore that handled no generics. I had to buy Tylenol, not a generic acetominophen.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 13 May 07 - 01:23 AM

Vacuum, Latin in vacuo, cannot be trademarked or patented unless it is combined uniquely with some word.
A Chinese firm tried to trademark 'vacuum packed mattress,' but it was not accepted by the U. S.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 13 May 07 - 04:26 AM

I think Foolestripe meant 'hoover' rather than vacuum. One can vacuum a carpet with a Dyson cleaner, but cannot 'hoover' with a Dyson as it becomes 'dysoning'.

And on that note, I have to go and Dyson my Axminsters.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 13 May 07 - 04:37 AM

Sorry dear... didn't see the spelling error due to mouse arrow being on top of it... FoolesTROUPE!!!

Although, now you mention it....

LTS (ducking and running for cover!)

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 13 May 07 - 06:59 AM

Tripe? Tripe!!!!

hmmmm..... wonder if a certain 'cloudy' parody ever gor rpinted out and passed on..

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 13 May 07 - 07:05 AM

... unless perhaps you were commenting on their material

Fooles Troupe Scribe...

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Mr Red
Date: 13 May 07 - 09:16 AM

What the public likes most is laziness and fashion.

The public likes gas guzzling SUV's.

Katrina and the next big one seem to be a million miles away from being connected to profligacy.

Dream on Chelsea Tractor drivers. History will judge you.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Alice
Date: 13 May 07 - 10:54 AM

Q, I don't think the state of Montana cares to sue over the cookhouse name... it is great promotion for Montana!
I think it is funny that there are no Montana Cookhouse restaurants in Montana.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Rowan
Date: 13 May 07 - 06:38 PM

When was the last time you used a Biro?

Johnson & Johnson still get exercised when someone refers to "bandaid solutions" as they think it's a slur.

"Slur" should have been protected so it's musical guise shouldn't be sullied by connections to bandaid solutions.

One could Google a lot of these but I'm told that Google is most upset that people wish to use their brand name as a verb instead of a brand name.

Perhaps they'd prefer us to go back to ballpoints.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 13 May 07 - 08:16 PM

Everything about Biro ® :
BIRO

My illegal alien tells me that a 'biro' is a European BIC®; but I don't know whether to believe him or not.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Rowan
Date: 13 May 07 - 09:51 PM

Believe him

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: frogprince
Date: 13 May 07 - 10:19 PM

A year or two back a new cable channel was announced as the "Spike" channel. Movie director Spike Lee sued for infringement. I think the news indicated that someone actually granted him a temporary injunction; why a judge would do anything but laugh is beyond me.

I'm still not sure that it wasn't set up as pre-launch publicity for the channel.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 14 May 07 - 08:34 AM

A friend of mine, Roger Sutcliffe is a blues guitarist and singer. One of his records is entitled Under the Rubber Eagle. He has spent a lot of time over the years playing in Germany. Apparently when touring, a lot of food was from fast food outlets. The locals had re-named the popular fast food rubber eagle (gummi adler).
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: GUEST,Edourd
Date: 14 May 07 - 04:08 PM

Is it true that Walt Disney manages the image of the Canadian RCMP Mountie?

PEI's Anne of Green Gables I believe is an registered trademark.

There was an unsuccessful attempt to control the name Bluenose, by Canada's Nova Scotia Bluenose ship foundation.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Gurney
Date: 14 May 07 - 05:12 PM

Geoff, here in NZ and I believe in Oz too, it is jocularly known, in some circles, as Kentucky Fucked Duck.

Honestly.   Really.   Truly.    No kidding.   I think you ought to know that.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 14 May 07 - 05:22 PM

Well, I think we can draw a veil over that one.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: HuwG
Date: 14 May 07 - 08:30 PM

Many years ago, Warner Brothers (who had produced the film, "Casablanca" attempted to stop the Marx brothers making a film called "A Night in Casablanca". Groucho versus lawyers ? No contest. He wrote back threatening to counter-sue. He pointed out that, "While you probably have the right to call yourselves, 'Warner', since we were known as the 'Marx Brothers' before you were established, your use of 'Brothers' renders you liable to action."

****

KFC attracted bad publicity for themselves in Glossop (Derbyshire, UK) by putting advertising signs on an antique shop and other properties, with the owners' (paid) consent but without planning permission. The awful scarlet signs on the neutral Peak District stone looked meretricious and tacky. Within days, they were removed (under threat of the KFC drive-through being closed).

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: GUEST,PMB
Date: 15 May 07 - 04:12 AM

Laszlo Biro, a Hungarian Jew, invented the Biro (pronounced "by roe" in English). Had he not had to flee the Nazis, he would have made a Bill Gates style fortune, but instead had to flee to Argentina. He sold Biros to the Royal Air Force, which is probably why the name stuck in England. A Frenchman, Marcel Bich, bought his French patent and produced them under the Bic trade name. Presumably he was fed up of people calling him Biche, which is the meaning of what a lot of people call dried- up biros. It's a good job Dean Koontz didn't make them.

What happened to Macfisheries, who had Mac things long before the other lot had Mc things?

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Mr Happy
Date: 16 May 07 - 10:07 AM

"finger-linkin' good"??

Would that be a side effect?

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 16 May 07 - 02:14 PM

Disney does not control the Mountie image. Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald tore it up many years ago.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Mr Happy
Date: 30 May 07 - 12:41 PM

........or is webbed fingers caused by overuse of the internet?

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 30 May 07 - 12:58 PM

What the doctor says to the nurse after a bloody one.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Joe_F
Date: 30 May 07 - 09:32 PM

On a trip to Quebec City a few years ago, I was pleased to see that KFC had translated itself to PFK. After that, I was hoping for a Roi-Bourgeois, but alas, it had kept its Yankee name.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 30 May 07 - 11:48 PM

A king burgher? Unlikely mix of a royal and a commoner.

Subject: RE: BS: KFC Steal the dictionary
From: Dave Masterson
Date: 31 May 07 - 03:53 AM

Says more than any lawyer