From Cory Doctorow comes the news that Chick-Fil-A is a corporate bully.
Bo sells a t-shirt that says “Eat More Kale” from his home in rural Vermont. Titanic chicken sandwich chain Chick-Fil-A claims that this shirt infringes on their trademark for the slogan “Eat Mor (sic) Chikin’ (sic).” They’ve demanded that Bo shut down and turn over his website to them. Rather than capitulate, Bo is making a defiant documentary about his refusal, and he’s raising funds on Kickstarter.
I wonder how that meshes with Chick-Fil-A’s FAQ that states:
Q: What is the Corporate Purpose of Chick-fil-A, Inc.?A: To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us. To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.
I’m guessing that the corporate philosophy of “glorifying God” doesn’t apply to small business owners who sell t-shirts that are not remotely threatening Chick-Fil-A in any way, shape or form. A great vengeance should be visited upon these people. Verily.
You can support the “defiant dude” at Kickstarter if you wish. He’s fighting the lawsuit.
Chick-fil-A, the country’s second largest fast-food chicken chain, is claiming that I’m infringing on their trademark ‘Eat Mor Chikin’ slogan with my ‘Eat More Kale’ t-shirts. Their lawyers want to confiscate my website, my t-shirt biz and art. Chick-fil-A is also demanding that I “forever cease and desist.”Cease and desist?? Like hell. I’ve decided to fight.Of course, I might not win — the odds are against me. All over the country ‘trademark bullies,’ large corporations that bully small businesses over alleged claims of trademark infringement, are legally harassing small businesses and wearing them down with repeated lawsuits and appeals. In the face of overwhelming legal bills, most small businesses just give up. This is more than just plain wrong: it’s un-American. By helping make this documentary I want to shine a light on this issue, my battle, and other trademark bullies, too. If I win, it’s a great story; if I lose, it’s a sad story. Either way, Jim and I think it’s a story worth telling. So whether you’ve been following me for years or you’re new to ‘Eat More Kale’, I hope you’ll become a backer of our documentary and part of the whole experience. Hey, thanks for the fun! Hope you’ll help us spread the word.
Personally, I hope Chick-Fil-A apologizes and drops the harassment. It’s embarrassing when big companies prove they don’t deserve my business and Chick-Fil-A is a prime example of that in this particular case. This sort of behavior is also a prime example of why America is failing as a nation, and why our society seems less and less able to function. America shouldn’t be a schoolyard where the big pick on the small just because they can.
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