Stubb's vs. Stubb's

One World Foods, the company behind Stubb’s barbecue sauces, has a beef with Stubb’s Austin Restaurant Co., claiming its growth could lead to consumer confusion and constitutes trademark infringement.

In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court, One World Foods, which was acquired by Maryland-based food industry giant McCormick and Co. this year as part of a $100 million deal, claims its predecessor acquired “all intellectual property interests owned by famed Texas barbecue restaurateur C.B. ‘Stubb’ Stubblefield, including recipes, processes, techniques, practices, sauces and products, names, rights, trademarks, copyrights and patents” in 1991.

By way of “an oral license,” Stubb’s Bar-B-Q, at 801 Red River St. in downtown Austin, was allowed to use the Stubb’s name, court documents indicate. That license also allegedly covers the Stubb’s catering operation in place at Mean Eyed Cat, 1621 W. Fifth St.

It’s two new Stubb’s catering operations – one already open at Graceland Grocery, 8600 W. U.S. 290, and one reportedly in the works at Lala’s Little Nugget, 2207 Justin Lane – that are apparently rubbing One World Foods the wrong way, with the company alleging “wrongful conduct.”

Read more: http://www.mystatesman.com/news/business/stubbs-sauce-maker-sues-stubbs-restaurant-over-nam/npcc8/?icmp=statesman_internallink_referralbox_free-to-premium-referral