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.

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