Chick-fil-A is still bullying Vermont artist Bo Muller-Moore to stop using the slogan “Eat More Kale.” Corporate bullies shouldn’t be allowed to ruin small businesses because of frivolous trademark claims.
The U.S. Trademark Office recently issued a preliminary rejection to Muller-Moore because Chick-fil-A claims that consumers would be confused with its slogan “Eat Mor Chikin.” When the Trademark Office issues a permanent ruling soon, Muller-Moore may face years of legal battles. We can stop this corporate bullying by demanding Chick-fil-A withdraw its opposition before the next Trademark Office decision.
Corporations should give its customers the benefit of the doubt. As intelligent consumers, we can tell the difference between a piece of chicken and green, leafy kale. Just as we stood up against Nestlé’s attempt to patent uses of the fennel flower, let’s stand up to Chick-fil-A and corporate bullying to support the little guy and kale!
Say No to Corporate Bullying: Tell Chick-fil-A to withdraw its opposition to the slogan “Eat More Kale.”
Bo Muller-Moore sold his Eat More Kale t-shirts for over 13 years at music festivals and farmers’ markets. Chick-fil-A threatened Muller-Moore with a cease-and-desist letter -- but he hasn’t backed down. When Muller-Moore filed a trademark application to protect his slogan and small business, Chick-fil-A submitted a letter of protest resulting in a preliminary rejection from the Trademark office.
Chick-fil-A has threatened more than thirty other artists and small businesspeople over the years with similarly-silly suits, threatening them with high-powered lawyers and court costs that would send almost anyone under. With its deep pockets and limitless amounts of time, Chick-fil-A can afford to wait out smaller players and drive them into the ground -- but we can put pressure on Chick-fil-A to make sure the little guy wins. Starbucks just lost a legal battle against a small coffee shop that sells a coffee blend called Mr. Charbucks, and we can win here too.
Muller-Moore appealed the ruling and fears a drawn-out and costly legal battle. If the Trademark Office doesn’t change its mind, Muller-Moore faces years in court, just like in the Starbucks/Charbucks case. We can't allow corporations to bully average Joes and claim ownership over everything through spurious patents and trademarks, especially something like a small-town artist’s quirky slogan.
Tell Chick-fil-A that we’re standing up to corporate bullying: nobody confuses chicken with kale!