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