Battle of the IHOPs Ends With Pancakes and Peace

[EnglishLady]

AOL NEWS Jan 4

IHOP -- the International House of Pancakes -- was hopping made when it found another group was using its "IHOP" acronym, even in the name of God.

But the flapjack-making restaurant chain has dropped its lawsuit against a religious group that calls itself the International House of Prayer.

Rather than continue its trademark-dilution and infringement suit against the Kansas City, Mo., church that goes by the moniker "IHOP-KC," the pancake purveyors have agreed to seek an out-of-court settlement with the worship center, according to the Los Angeles Times.

In court documents filed at U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, the breakfast chain initially contended that by appropriating its 38-year-old "IHOP" acronym, the religious group caused "great and irreparable injury and confuses the public."

That said, the pancake makers did not seek monetary damages from the church, which is known for hosting a 24/7 prayer and worship meeting and "preparing for the unique dynamics of the end times."

Citing "ongoing mediation with the defendants," the International House of Pancakes withdrew its suit on Dec. 21.

A spokesman for the pancake makers told the paper that both sides have agreed to not discuss the case publicly


Hmmm they sell Breakfast and that's a Church - I'm not confused

 

[LDB]

Other than a lawyer who is incapable of distinguishing clearly and absolutely between a restaurant and a religious organization?

 

[Turtle]

Remember back, a long time ago, when Autozone was called Auto Shack?
Radio Shack sued, and won, because people might confuse an auto parts store with an electronics store.

 

[Dreamer]

I know a girl who is part of the IHOP-KC.. it truely is a unique place, but I wondered how long they'd go before the pancake house fussed LOL.

It's the only 24/7 church I've ever seen. They really do have people there praying and worshiping 24/7. It's mostly students who take it as a personal ministry/missions type thing, and they sign up for when they want to take part, so that at least one team is always there.

Pretty cool concept.


Dale

 

[moose]

Hands down , I make the best Pancakes in the country !

BTW Dreamer ,there's a few of those 24/7 churches in Jerusalem ,
and i remember visiting one of those at night when i was a student ,and hearing a remarks made by a pester about how desperate a man needs to be ,if his prayers cannot whit till morning...
you just need to dream harder...

 

[Dreamer]

....... about how desperate a man needs to be ,if his prayers cannot wait till morning...

Been there many times lol.


Dale




Posted with my Droid EO Forum App

 

[robh2]

I am not a lawyer but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn Express one night so I think I am more than qualified to clear this up. lol...

If someone uses/does something that is close to the realm of any trademarks, patents or anything that is considered owned and the company does nothing about it, it opens up a big can of worms. It can create a precedence that can lead to others doing the same thing down the road and argue that it was not claimed when X used it, so I can use it also.

Many times in a suit like this one, the company will sue so it is on the records but will either charge a small fee under written agreement for the use of its X, make them stop or many other options.

The companies in many cases are not being big bad wolves killing the little guy, they are just keeping things from getting out of hand and losing their X in court. When it is big company against big company, yea, its usually a fight, but when its mom and pop or something like that, its usually just for show and getting on recored in the courts with minimal losses.

Be safe.

Robert