KFC Sues Church’s Texas Chicken Over “Original Recipe” Trademark

Church’s Texas Chicken infringed KFC Corp.'s half-century old “Original Recipe” trademark, the fast-food giant alleged in a federal lawsuit.

Church’s Texas Chicken, formally known as Cajun Operating Co., began using the “Original Recipe” trademark to promote its competing fried chicken brand on Sept. 30, according to the complaint filed Nov. 8 in US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

KFC, which is owned by Yum! Brands Inc., sent the company a letter on Oct. 2 objecting to Church’s Texas Chicken’s unauthorized use of the mark, but the company ignored the letter.

KFC accused Church’s Texas Chicken of ...