Chicken Chain Claims “Eat More Kale” Infringes Its Trademark

After Vermont-based folk artist Bo Muller-Moore decided to apply for a federal trademark to protect his “Eat More Kale” T-shirt design, fast food chain Chick-fil-A reportedly accused him of infringing its “Eat Mor Chikin” trademark. The kale design has apparently caught on with consumers, who pay $25 each for the T-shirts and have purchased a sufficient quantity for Muller-Moore to support his family.

With powerful allies such as Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin (D), who reportedly said, “Don’t mess with Vermont. Don’t mess with kale. And Chick-fil-A, get out of the way because we are going to win this one,” Muller-Moore has vowed to defend the claim. Publicity about the fracas has apparently generated a rash of sales, which Chick-fil-A hopes to stop; the company has also apparently sought an order requiring Muller-Moore to turn over his website, eatmorekale.com. See NPR.org, December 6, 2011.