TGI Fridays Threat over ‘Friday Beers’ Is Overreach, Suit Says

A merchant applying for a “Friday Beers” trademark sued TGI Fridays after receiving cease-and-desist letters warning that it would infringe the restaurant chain’s marks.

The “Friday” aspect of TGI Fridays’ marks is “inherently weak” and there’s no evidence of any consumer confusion, Friday Beers LLC said in its March 27 complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. It seeks to register the mark for clothing, beer and entertainment services.

Determining whether customers will likely be confused is a critical question in infringement cases. Whether consumers have actually been confused by the Friday Beer trademark ...