Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) traces its roots to 1930 when Harland Sanders began selling fried chicken from a roadside service station in Kentucky. As the demand for his unique blend of 11 herbs and spices grew, Sanders franchised his recipe, leading to the official establishment of KFC in 1952. The first trademark registration likely involved the iconic KFC name or its distinctive logo, securing its brand identity and ensuring exclusivity.
As a major fast-food chain, KFC actively monitors its trademarks to safeguard against infringement. Back in the 1970s, Kentucky Fried Chicken Corporation (KFC) sued Diversified Packaging Corporation for unfair competition and trademark infringement. KFC's franchise agreements mandated that franchisees purchase supplies, including carry-out boxes and napkins, either directly from KFC or from approved sources. Diversified, without KFC's consent, placed KFC's trademarks on such supplies and sold them to KFC franchisees. Notably, Diversified had never sought KFC's approval as a supplier, and its products did not fully meet KFC's specifications. The district court ruled in favor of KFC, emphasizing the unauthorized use of its trademarks on supplies and the failure of Diversified's products to meet KFC's specifications. In 2017, KFC took legal action against Brain Mastrosimone, alleging trademark infringement of its famous "Finger Lickin' Good" slogan. KFC, a national fast-food chain, considers "Finger Lickin' Good" one of its oldest and most important trademarks. The dispute revolves around the similarity between Mastrosimone's slogan and KFC's trademark, with KFC asserting a false connection that could confuse consumers and damage the company's reputation. KFC filed for trademark protection of "Finger Lickin' Good" in the 1960s.
