Stubb's vs. Stubb's
One World Foods, the company behind Stubbs barbecue sauces, has a beef with Stubbs Austin Restaurant Co., claiming its growth could lead to consumer confusion and constitutes trademark infringement.
In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court, One World Foods, which was acquired by Maryland-based food industry giant McCormick and Co. this year as part of a $100 million deal, claims its predecessor acquired all intellectual property interests owned by famed Texas barbecue restaurateur C.B. Stubb Stubblefield, including recipes, processes, techniques, practices, sauces and products, names, rights, trademarks, copyrights and patents in 1991.
By way of an oral license, Stubbs Bar-B-Q, at 801 Red River St. in downtown Austin, was allowed to use the Stubbs name, court documents indicate. That license also allegedly covers the Stubbs catering operation in place at Mean Eyed Cat, 1621 W. Fifth St.
Its two new Stubbs catering operations one already open at Graceland Grocery, 8600 W. U.S. 290, and one reportedly in the works at Lalas Little Nugget, 2207 Justin Lane that are apparently rubbing One World Foods the wrong way, with the company alleging wrongful conduct.
Read more: http://www.mystatesman.com/news/business/stubbs-sauce-maker-sues-stubbs-restaurant-over-nam/npcc8/?icmp=statesman_internallink_referralbox_free-to-premium-referral