Chipotle bullies mom and pop asian restaurant into changing their name

[Renew Deal]

"As soon as Chipotle announced that they would be launching a new Asian fast food concept known as Shophouse, we knew this had to be coming… ML favorite, Pure Thai Shophouse (on 9th btw. 51+52nd) is now calling themselves Pure Thai Cookhouse. A call to the restaurant confirms that Chipotle did indeed set their legal hounds on the Hell’s Kitchen Thai spot forcing them to drop the “Shophouse” moniker. Although it was a sucker punch for this tiny Thai eatery, everything else, including the menu and ownership, is still the same as before."

http://midtownlunch.com/2012/01/03/chipotle-forces-pure-thai-shophouse-to-change-their-name

Chipotle decides to open an asian chain called "Shophouse" and bullies a local family owned restaurant into changing their name. That's wrong.

[msongs]

1. crummy mexican food now with crummy asian food? great news nt

[MineralMan]

2. The local restaurant probably could have won a legal case,

but probably couldn't afford one. So, they caved and change their name. Happens a lot.

On the other hand, we have Target Liquors in Saint Paul, MN. It predates Target Stores, and has a red and white target as its logo on a sign. They, no doubt, heard from Target Corp. and told Target Corp. to pound sand. The sign's still there and the store's still open. It's all a matter of how much you care.

[WingDinger]

3. Welcome to america, where a patent, or trademark, is worthless, unless you got the scratch, to defen

defend it.