Fast-Food Faceoff: Taco Bell Challenges 'Taco Tuesday' Trademarks Held by Taco John's, Gregory's Restaurant

In a culinary clash of titans, Taco Bell is petitioning to 'liberate' the federally trademarked phrase 'Taco Tuesday.' The move faces stiff opposition from multi-state chains Taco John's and Gregory's Restaurant & Bar, both current trademark holders, prompting a heated debate about the term's usage.

Taco Bell alleges "Taco Tuesday" is a generic term wrongly monopolized by its competitors, but Taco John's, with fewer than 500 stores in the Midwest, disputes that claim. The Wyoming-based company and New Jersey's Gregory's Restaurant & Bar own trademark rights to "Taco Tuesday" across most of the United States, affirming their federal trademarks and denying Taco Bell's allegations.

Taco Bell launched a petition to "liberate" the phrase so that any business could use it. Still, Taco John's and Gregory's Restaurant & Bar cried foul, urging the US Trademark Office to reject Taco Bell's effort.

Taco John's, which has been holding the trademark for 34 years, contests Taco Bell's efforts, calling its claims an attempt to monopolize the phrase and sell more tacos. The Wisconsin-based company argued that "Taco Tuesday" deserves trademark protection and that it "does not prohibit petitioner or anyone from advertising and selling tacos on Tuesday." Meanwhile, Gregory's Restaurant denies that Taco Bell was entitled to their "Taco Tuesday" trademark rights covering New Jersey.

Taco Bell is also spearheading a change.org petition and a Q&A session on Reddit, putting its own efforts to achieve "common sense usage of a common term" front and center for public support.

As the largest Mexican fast-food chain in America, Taco Bell's fight to legally use the popular phrase has ignited public interest, with the brand launching a change.org petition and planning a public session on Reddit to gain support. However, Taco John's notes it has held its federal trademark for 34 years and calls for "common sense usage of a common term." We'll wait and see what the US Trademark Office decides.

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