KFC sues Church's Texas Chicken over "original recipe" ad claims

KFC is taking one of its smaller rivals to court, suing Church's Texas Chicken for allegedly violating its trademark rights by using the phrase "original recipe" in pitching its fried poultry products. 

Church's use of the term "original recipe" in its advertising is "likely to deceive, confuse and mislead purchasers and prospective purchasers into believing the goods and services offered under the mark are affiliated with, authorized by, or come from KFC," the chain operated by Yum Brands claimed in a lawsuit filed last week in U.S. District Court in Texas. 

KFC became aware of Church's use of the phrase toward the end of September, and objected in a letter it sent to the Atlanta-based chicken chain the following month, according to the suit.