# Taco Bell wants to return the phrase "Taco Tuesday" to the people **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 17, 2023, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bell-wants-to-return-the-phrase-taco-tuesday-to-the-people/984166 "2023-05-17T14:20:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![a6ka97](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c2a13f/32.png) [@a6ka97](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a6ka97)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bell-wants-to-return-the-phrase-taco-tuesday-to-the-people/984166/41 "2023-05-19T11:37:14Z")
I don’t know about suing but I heard a local mom and pop bar/restaurant got a cease and desist order (or whatever it is called) for advertising “Taco Tuesday”. Around here Taco Tuesday is synonymous with Taco Johns. They were smart enough to trademark the phrase, let them have it. In looking at the list that Jackmannii has a linked to it seems Taco Bell has some pretty generic phrases. Other restaurants, like Applebee’s “Eating Good In The Neighborhood” or KFC’s “Finger Licking Good” have also enter the general language vernacular. Plus there are 6 other days of the week for them to choose from. In my town Taco Bell is the Burger King of quick serve Mexican restaurants, the people who eat there are out of towners who don’t know any better. Locals usually go to Taco Johns or on the other side of town from me, Taco Tico. At times the drive thru line at Taco Tico will be backed up into the street and Taco Bell will have maybe 1 car in the lot and 2 in the drive thru. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bell-wants-to-return-the-phrase-taco-tuesday-to-the-people/984166/42 "2023-05-19T12:29:04Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > Fiesta Friday! Salsa Saturday! In this spirit we once tried to come up with cute alliterative phrases for plausible restaurant food specials for each day of the week, and not limited to just Mexican: > Manicotti Monday > Taco Tuesday (of course) > etc. Turns out Wednesday is the hard one. At least for me/us. Wasabi Wednesday was the best we could do. Being as I’m a natural procrastinator and also not really aligned with the normal Mon - Fri workweek I also coined “Tardy Taco Thursday”. Because that’s usually about when I remember it’s been awhile since I had a taco & now I want one. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bell-wants-to-return-the-phrase-taco-tuesday-to-the-people/984166/43 "2023-05-19T13:09:44Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > There’s literally an [entire branded line](https://a.co/d/cX8IQnk) of Mexican food dishes called “Taco Tuesday” I see at Wal-Mart that I have no idea how they get around trademark unless the trademark only applies specifically to food not accessories. > > Also Del Taco (a California chain that’s a slightly higher quality taco bell) has a Taco Tuesday promotion but it’s called Tuesday Taco Night which you would think wouldn’t fly by just reversing the words and I’m fairly certain Del Taco has more restaurants than Taco John’s and still hasn’t been sued yet. Maybe they pay royalties (or whatever the term is) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bell-wants-to-return-the-phrase-taco-tuesday-to-the-people/984166/44 "2023-05-19T14:42:34Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > There’s literally an [entire branded line](https://a.co/d/cX8IQnk) of Mexican food dishes called “Taco Tuesday” I see at Wal-Mart that I have no idea how they get around trademark unless the trademark only applies specifically to food not accessories. > > Also Del Taco (a California chain that’s a slightly higher quality taco bell) has a Taco Tuesday promotion but it’s called Tuesday Taco Night which you would think wouldn’t fly by just reversing the words and I’m fairly certain Del Taco has more restaurants than Taco John’s and still hasn’t been sued yet. The trademark might only cover usage by restaurants, or food products; either that, or Wal-Mart is paying Taco John’s for use of the term. Del Taco’s term is different (yes, it’s a reversal of the words, as well as adding another word), and I would strongly suspect that their lawyers weighed in on it, and advised them that it was sufficiently different that they’d be in the clear. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bell-wants-to-return-the-phrase-taco-tuesday-to-the-people/984166/45 "2023-05-19T15:29:46Z")
If Taco Bell is unsuccessful with this, I wonder if they can simply use “Taco Tues”? Is that sufficiently different from Taco Tuesday? I mean, it’s not Taco Bell’s fault if everyone just extends the saying by adding -day all the time. Or “Taco Twos-day” to encourage everyone to order two tacos. Or better yet, “Taco Martes.” And if Del Taco can get away with Tuesday Taco Night, can Taco Bell get away with “Taco 🔔 Tuesday”? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bell-wants-to-return-the-phrase-taco-tuesday-to-the-people/984166/46 "2023-05-19T15:38:13Z")
This brouhaha reminds me of the time Burger King threatened legal action against a small burger joint in Syracuse N.Y. The restaurant had been selling its “Whopper” for years before Burger King came up with and trademarked their own “Whopper”. But BK wasn’t about to allow anyone else to share the glory. The upshot was that the Syracuse place changed the name of their offering to the “Vopper”. As far as I know, that was the end of it. Curiously, if you go to a BK in Azerbaijan, you can apparently [order a Vopper](https://www.facebook.com/burgerkingaze/photos/a.1843265265966154/1994044667554879/?type=3&locale2=ar_AR&paipv=0&eav=AfYdJb53cVg98gp6X_PKwzhrAdLk55u0M9m7ZWly2WoSvJOz5oEaKjxNlTVEhIMvAXI&_rdr). ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bell-wants-to-return-the-phrase-taco-tuesday-to-the-people/984166/47 "2023-05-19T19:18:25Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > There is something called > Original Potato Olés® which for some reason Taco Bell is not trying to “liberate”. This is the best item Taco John’s sells. Potato rounds, spiced and deep fried. I’ve even tried recipes online that people swear are the Taco John’s recipe, but nothing even close. The rest of their food is pretty typical fast food quality, but still better than Taco Bell. I don’t know what the hell kind of meat Taco Bell uses, but it’s not anything I recognize. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bell-wants-to-return-the-phrase-taco-tuesday-to-the-people/984166/48 "2023-05-19T21:05:43Z")
I believe Wednesday is already trademarked, WingStop has Wing Wednesday. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bell-wants-to-return-the-phrase-taco-tuesday-to-the-people/984166/49 "2023-05-19T21:09:47Z")
Cool. Thanks. I wonder if they have Wasabi wings on Wing Wednesday? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bell-wants-to-return-the-phrase-taco-tuesday-to-the-people/984166/50 "2023-05-19T21:13:01Z")
I still don’t think it makes sense for a taco chain to use “Taco Tuesday”. Surely, at Taco John’s, every day is Taco Day? It makes much more sense for, say, a cafeteria, which might have a different “featured dish” every day. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bell-wants-to-return-the-phrase-taco-tuesday-to-the-people/984166/51 "2023-05-19T21:14:21Z")
I’m finding a lot of restaurants advertising Wing Wednesday. So even if WingStop does it, it might not be trademarked by anyone. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bell-wants-to-return-the-phrase-taco-tuesday-to-the-people/984166/52 "2023-05-19T21:21:41Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I still don’t think it makes sense for a taco chain to use “Taco Tuesday”. Surely, at Taco John’s, every day is Taco Day? In the restaurant business, Tuesday is typically the slowest day of the week. Hence restaurants will often have special promotions on Tuesdays to try to get more people into the restaurant on that day, with Taco Tuesday being one such promotion. Presumably they get enough business other days without having to offer special deals. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bell-wants-to-return-the-phrase-taco-tuesday-to-the-people/984166/53 "2023-05-19T21:24:50Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > In the restaurant business, Tuesday is typically the slowest day of the week. Hence restaurants will often have special promotions on Tuesdays to try to get more people into the restaurant on that day, with Taco Tuesday being one such promotion. Exactly, and “Taco Tuesday” is the catchy name that they have for their Tuesday-only price promotion on tacos. It’s not just being used to say “eat our tacos on Tuesdays,” it’s “come in for a special deal on our tacos, which is only available on Tuesdays.” > **[Taco Tuesday | Taco John's](https://tacojohns.com/taco-tuesday/)** > > Our Taco Tuesday® is legendary. Stop by any Tuesday for specially-priced, 100% American beef tacos topped with crisp lettuce, cheese and our signature mild sauce. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bell-wants-to-return-the-phrase-taco-tuesday-to-the-people/984166/54 "2023-05-19T21:33:20Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > Has Taco John’s been going around suing other restaurants that have used the term? This recent article indicates that they have a history of sending other restaurants cease-and-desist orders over the trademarked term, though it doesn’t provide details. > [@](#): > > Taco John’s has vigorously defended its rights, to the point of sending cease-and-desist letters to restaurants that use “Taco Tuesday” to promote, well, tacos on Tuesday. > **[Column: Trademarking 'Taco Tuesday' is downright Trumpian](https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/california/story/2023-05-18/taco-tuesday-copyright-taco-johns-taco-bell)** > > Taco John's has long ignored calls to let the trademark enter the public domain. Now comes a new run at it by none other than Taco Bell, filed on — when else? — Taco Tuesday. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bell-wants-to-return-the-phrase-taco-tuesday-to-the-people/984166/55 "2023-05-19T21:33:35Z")
All the “Taco Tuesday” specials around here at Mexican restaurants are just that. A buck or two off each _a la carte_ taco, with the regular menu still available at full price. It’s amazing how expensive 4 margaritas, some chips & queso, and four tacos can be. Plus maybe a churro. The $4 collective discount on those tacos sure brought in some money. 🤪 ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bell-wants-to-return-the-phrase-taco-tuesday-to-the-people/984166/56 "2023-05-19T22:44:34Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > This recent article indicates that they have a history of sending other restaurants cease-and-desist orders over the trademarked term, though it doesn’t provide details. That’s about all they can do, because they would probably lose in court. In 2019, LeBron James filed for a trademark of “Taco Tuesday”. The United States Patent and Trademark Office denied his request. _But not because it already belonged to Taco Johns._ It was denied because Taco Tuesday is “a commonplace term, message or expression widely used by a variety of sources that merely conveys an ordinary, familiar, well-recognized concept or sentiment.” ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2023, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bell-wants-to-return-the-phrase-taco-tuesday-to-the-people/984166/57 "2023-05-20T01:11:48Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Turns out Wednesday is the hard one. At least for me/us. Wasabi Wednesday was the best we could do. A local, upmarket supermarket chain here has been offering Sushi Wednesdays for years with a special on fresh-made sushi. At work, someone will sho up with a L&B bag at lunchtime on Wednesday and the co-workers will all ask if they are going to share it out. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2023, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bell-wants-to-return-the-phrase-taco-tuesday-to-the-people/984166/58 "2023-05-20T01:19:06Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > A local, upmarket supermarket chain here has been offering Sushi Wednesdays for years with a special on fresh-made sushi In California, Vons does the same thing of Fridays. In fact, there’s a joke in our break room about how the weekend starts with five dollar sushi. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2023, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bell-wants-to-return-the-phrase-taco-tuesday-to-the-people/984166/59 "2023-05-20T02:07:38Z")
Ha, the store by me has $5 Sushi Sundays. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2023, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bell-wants-to-return-the-phrase-taco-tuesday-to-the-people/984166/60 "2023-05-20T02:17:29Z")
All right. I’m not a law dude. And I can see a company trademarking the name of their restaurant, or the unique name for a sandwich, etc. But just two words like “taco” and “Tuesday”? I don’t feel comfortable living in a society that lets someone claim “MINE!” whenever someone else happens to put those freely available words together. Where is the line? Where shall it be drawn? I can only go with my gut. (Which is saying Tacos!) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bell-wants-to-return-the-phrase-taco-tuesday-to-the-people/984166.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-bell-wants-to-return-the-phrase-taco-tuesday-to-the-people/984166.md?page=4)