Robert Kirkman Files Trademark Dispute In The Walking Dead Restaurant Case

Have you heard about a new The Walking Dead-themed restaurant?Putting aside for a moment the [...]

robert-kirkman-walking-dead

Have you heard about a new The Walking Dead-themed restaurant?

Putting aside for a moment the demented thought of just what you'd eat there, let's focus on the fact that The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman is going to court to try and stop it from happening.

Why, you ask? After all, with his characters featured on everything from t-shirts to cigarette lighters to theme park rides, The Walking Dead as a theme restaurant doesn't seem that far out of line...

...except it's not Kirkman, or any of his representatives, who are trying to get it off the ground.

THR reports that Kirkman has filed suit against a trio of business partners who apparently have a long history of attempting to latch onto popular trademarks, ranging from the NHL to Donald Trump.

A request for summary judgment filed in a New Jersey federal court names Philip Theodorou, Steven Theodorou and Anna Theodorou as the defendants, claiming that they "have filed eleven separate trademark applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office to register THE WALKING DEAD and have taken concrete steps to use the mark in commerce by raising money and preparing to open a restaurant in New Jersey under the mark."

"Specifically, combinations of the Theodorou defendants have filed several applications with the USPTO to register trademarks owned by or associated with well-known individuals and companies, including the hip hop artists the Beastie Boys (NO SLEEP TILL BROOKLYN, the name of their popular song), Donald Trump (MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN), United Trademark Holdings (ZOMBIE CINDERELLA), and the National Hockey League (BROOKLYN ISLANDERS)," the suit alleges.

Kirkman has licensed the series out to AMC, and becuase he and the network split what trademarks and rights each have, they are apparently not involved with the lawsuit at this point as a theme restaurant wouldn't fall under their rights interest.

THR notes that Kirkman is not only opposing at the Trademark Office, but launching a lawsuit asserting unfair competition, trademark dilution and deceptive and unfair trademark practices.

0comments