1851

Wildly popular throughout the U.S., &ldquo;Taco Tuesday&rdquo; specials can be found at a myriad of restaurants from mom-and-pop taquerias to big-name brands. However, for the past 30 years, 400-unit quick-service restaurant chain Taco John&rsquo;s has owned the trademark of the phrase. Akin to when Kylie Jenner <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-38877658?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=your-next-taco-tuesday-could-be-a-case-for-a-cease-and-desist-2710741" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">tried to trademark the name &ldquo;Kylie&rdquo;</a>, the legal ownership of &ldquo;Taco Tuesday&rdquo; reminds us that there are in fact <a href="https://www.rd.com/culture/surprising-trademarked-words/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=your-next-taco-tuesday-could-be-a-case-for-a-cease-and-desist-2710741" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">countless</a> words and phrases that exist within the common American vernacular that are trademarked. For decades, Taco John&rsquo;s has been quietly defending its claim to the phrase with <a href="https://priceonomics.com/the-trademarking-of-taco-tuesday/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=your-next-taco-tuesday-could-be-a-case-for-a-cease-and-desist-2710741" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">&ldquo;hundreds&rdquo;</a> of cease-and-desist letters to competitors.&nbsp;

Most recently, Taco John&rsquo;s contacted Freedom&rsquo;s Edge Brewing Company, a brewery close to the brand&rsquo;s headquarters in Wyoming which had adopted the phrase. &ldquo;We certainly appreciate our fellow community member&rsquo;s enthusiasm for tacos on Tuesday and the term is often used inadvertently,&rdquo; said a letter from Taco John&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.eater.com/2019/8/14/20806047/taco-tuesday-taco-johns-trademark-controversy?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=your-next-taco-tuesday-could-be-a-case-for-a-cease-and-desist-2710741" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">reported by Eater.</a> &ldquo;However, it is still extremely important to us to protect our rights in this mark.&rdquo;

&ldquo;It&rsquo;s kind of asinine to me think that one particular taco seller, or taco maker, would have monopoly rights over &lsquo;Taco Tuesday,&rsquo;&rdquo; said Seattle-based lawyer Michael Atkins <a href="https://www.apnews.com/1dd60d2fc1aa4f59a4407f12d58b6faa?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=your-next-taco-tuesday-could-be-a-case-for-a-cease-and-desist-2710741" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">to the Associated Press.</a> Still, Taco John&rsquo;s is steadfast in its defense of the trademark. The brand&rsquo;s chief marketing officer Billie Jo Waara has gone so far as to say that it is part of the brand&rsquo;s &ldquo;DNA&rdquo;.&nbsp;

While Taco John&rsquo;s legal team seems slightly more lax than <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/taylor-swift-legal-battles/donn-saylor?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=your-next-taco-tuesday-could-be-a-case-for-a-cease-and-desist-2710741" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Taylor Swift&rsquo;s</a>, competitors may want to play it safe lest they get slammed with another cease-and-desist. Read the full story <a href="https://www.eater.com/2019/8/14/20806047/taco-tuesday-taco-johns-trademark-controversy?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=your-next-taco-tuesday-could-be-a-case-for-a-cease-and-desist-2710741" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">here.</a>

Your Next Taco Tuesday Could Be a Case for a Cease-and-Desist 

1851 Franchise

Just trying to enjoy some meat and tortilla goodness? You could be hearing from Taco John’s lawyers.

your-next-taco-tuesday-could-be-a-case-for-a-cease-and-desist

Senior Care Authority

How This Senior Care Authority Franchisee Turned Love for His Grandparents Into a Lifelong Calling

how-this-senior-care-authority-franchisee-turned-love-for-his-grandparents-into-a-lifelong-calling

HomeTeam Inspection Service

Hometown News: Like Father, Like Son — Family-Run Inspection Business Blends Generations of Expertise and a Keen Eye for Detail

father-son-home-inspection-franchise-florida

KLA Schools

KLA Schools of Beachwalk Hosts Admissions Kick-Off Celebration

kla-schools-of-beachwalk-hosts-admissions-kick-off-celebration

Good Day Columbus: Home Insurance Expert Reveals Why Central Ohio Premiums Are Rising and How to Combat Costs

rising-home-insurance-costs-ohio

CapitalSpring

Primetime Fitness Expands Crunch Portfolio With CapitalSpring’s Backing

primetime-fitness-expands-crunch-portfolio-with-capitalsprings-backing

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Potbelly to be Acquired by RaceTrac in $566 Million Deal 

racetrac-acquires-potbelly-in-566-million-deal

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities - 1851 Franchise Agg

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities 

health-care-hiring-slowdown-in-home-care-franchise-opportunities

Caribou Coffee Names Scott Kennedy CEO, Eyes Continued Growth

caribou-coffee-names-scott-kennedy-ceo-eyes-continued-growth

McDonald’s Launches New Extra Value Meals as Consumer Demand for Value Continues to Climb

mcdonalds-launches-extra-value-meals

Power Eats: Smoothie King Rolls Out Food Nationwide To Fuel Franchise Growth

smoothie-king-food-menu-power-eats

Technomic Releases Annual Ranking of the Top 15 Fast-Food Chains in the U.S.

technomic-releases-annual-ranking-of-the-top-15-fast-food-chains-in-the-us

AI Is Reshaping Franchising: $100 Billion Valuations and Hyper-Localized Advertising

ai-is-reshaping-franchising-100-billion-valuations-and-hyper-localized-advertising

1851 Keyword - The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

part-time-franchises-picking-the-right-model

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

DevHub - Meet the Supplier - 1851 Franchise

DevHub: Scalable Digital Marketing for Franchises and Multi-Location Brands

devhub-meet-the-supplier

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Multi-Unit Wendy’s Operator Signs 12-Unit Deal With Layne’s Chicken Fingers

ricki-oberoi-laynes-chicken-fingers-growth

1851 Franchise Deep Dive graphic with Sparkle Squad logo

Sparkle Squad Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-sparkle-squad-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Design with school-aged child standing on pencil with text "Education Franchises" and "<$500K"

Top Education Franchises Under $500K To Explore in 2025

top-education-franchises-under-500k

Your Next Taco Tuesday Could Be a Case for a Cease-and-Desist

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS