Square Donuts
The Square Donuts company of Terre Haute, Indiana has been making square donuts for 50 years, and they've trademarked the name. Eleven years ago, the Family Express convenience store also began making donuts that are square, and selling them as "square donuts." The Square Donuts company recently noticed what they were doing. Therefore, lawyers are now involved.
Square Donuts demands that Family Express stop selling those square donuts. Family Express insists that "square donuts" is too generic a concept to trademark.
I wonder if anyone has trademarked Triangular Donuts or Polyhedral Donuts? A business opportunity perhaps?
More Info: CBS Chicago
Square Donuts demands that Family Express stop selling those square donuts. Family Express insists that "square donuts" is too generic a concept to trademark.
I wonder if anyone has trademarked Triangular Donuts or Polyhedral Donuts? A business opportunity perhaps?
More Info: CBS Chicago
Comments
Once upon a time, in a past age of greatness, triangular donuts walked the Earth:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_Bobby
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_Bobby
Posted by Paul on 03/29/16 at 09:53 AM
Isn't this one of those cases where the product is known generically but the name, in combination with another descriptive word that makes the combination unique eligible for trademark.
Example: one generally refers to a soft processed piece of tissue paper used to evacuate one's nasal cavities as a"kleenex" no matter who manufactures it but the name "Kleenex" is a trademarked name of that type of product.
The establishment known as "Square Donuts" is selling a baked good that is square and is reflected in their name. Family Express is selling the same type of product but has not infringed on the Square Donut name as an establishment. I don't think that Square Donut has an argument.
Example: one generally refers to a soft processed piece of tissue paper used to evacuate one's nasal cavities as a"kleenex" no matter who manufactures it but the name "Kleenex" is a trademarked name of that type of product.
The establishment known as "Square Donuts" is selling a baked good that is square and is reflected in their name. Family Express is selling the same type of product but has not infringed on the Square Donut name as an establishment. I don't think that Square Donut has an argument.
Posted by KDP on 03/29/16 at 10:28 AM
Lawyers will charge a lot of money and call in the real subject matter experts, the police to determine how real they are. In the end they are fried dough often covered in sugar and icing of assorted flavors found in differnt shapes and sizes all over the world. Cardiologists and heart surgeons are the ones who make all the money off donuts.
Posted by Gator Guy on 03/29/16 at 11:35 AM
I think we're dealing with roses and dead Englishmen here.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 03/29/16 at 11:59 AM
Reminds me of last week when a guy removed his open source code from software that many people use for websites. He didn't want to change his name for it which was supposedly copyrighted by a large company. It caused quite a bit of crashes.
Posted by BrokeDad in Midwest US on 03/29/16 at 05:34 PM
The lawyers will bring in the expert witnesses, namely, the entire Terre Haute Police Dept., of course.
Posted by Virtual on 03/30/16 at 12:35 AM
BD: and he was in the right, since his project had been called kik since before Kik started.
His reaction may have been a bit over the top, but I've seen some of the details and frankly, I can see where he was coming from.
His reaction may have been a bit over the top, but I've seen some of the details and frankly, I can see where he was coming from.
Posted by Richard Bos on 03/30/16 at 08:01 AM
Square doughnuts are probably just trying make a quick buck. Sickens me that you can sue over a shape ........
Posted by The man with no face on 03/30/16 at 09:40 AM
I'm gonna make the Dronut. It's several small donuts made into the shape of a quad drone.
Posted by BrokeDad in Midwest US on 03/30/16 at 05:57 PM
@BD: Would that be one of those UNMANNDED drones or will you be able to ride in it?
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 03/31/16 at 12:12 AM
How about the bronut, a cream stick that is larger at one end. (the end the cream comes out of)
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 03/31/16 at 04:14 PM
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Category: Business | Food | Junk Food | Lawsuits