Taco Bell has squeezed out its last big challenger to the Taco Tuesday trademark; Quartz, October 25, 2023

Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz; Taco Bell has squeezed out its last big challenger to the Taco Tuesday trademark

"“Taco Tuesday” is free for all restaurant owners to use now.

Up until May of 2023, the trademark for the phrase was held by the Taco John’s restaurant chain in 49 states and Gregory’s in New Jersey for decades. But then, the Yum Brands’ fast-food giant Taco Bell filed a petition with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to cancel the trademarks and free the “generic” term.

After six months, Taco Bell has finally won. In July, Taco John’s relinquished the trademark, and earlier this week, so did Gregory’s."

Taco Bell wins 'Taco Tuesday' trademark dispute with rival chain; Reuters, July 18, 2023

Blake Brittain, Reuters ; Taco Bell wins 'Taco Tuesday' trademark dispute with rival chain

"Yum Brands' (YUM.N) Taco Bell prevailed on Tuesday in its self-described bid to "liberate" the phrase "Taco Tuesday," as competing fast-food chain Taco John's told the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) it would abandon its federal "Taco Tuesday" trademark.

Taco Bell had asked the USPTO in May to cancel the trademark, calling it a common phrase that Taco John's had monopolized unfairly in the restaurant industry."

Taco John’s responds to Taco Bell’s Taco Tuesday lawsuit; CNN, June 26, 2023

 Jordan Valinsky, CNN; Taco John’s responds to Taco Bell’s Taco Tuesday lawsuit

"Last month, Taco Bell filed a petition with the US Patent and Trademark office to cancel the trademark owned by rival Taco John’s for 34 years because Taco Bell claims the commonly used phrase “should be freely available to all who make, sell, eat and celebrate tacos.” Since Taco John’s holds the trademark, other restaurants and companies must seek permission to use “Taco Tuesday” in branding and advertising.

The use of the phrase “potentially subjects Taco Bell and anyone else who wants to share tacos with the world to the possibility of legal action or angry letters if they say ‘Taco Tuesday’ without express permission from [Taco John’s] — simply for pursuing happiness on a Tuesday,” the original filing said.

In response, Taco John’s said it “has the right to enforce its trademark rights against infringers and those who want to infringe, including Taco Bell,” adding that it “denies that enforcing its trademark rights against infringers who seek to profit from the goodwill that Spicy Seasonings and its licensees … have created over the last forty-four years violates any American ideal.”"