Posts Tagged: "restaurants"

Restaurants Take Aim at Google, Alleging Deceptive Online Ordering Scheme

The operators of a number of Lime Fresh Mexican Grill franchises have filed a lawsuit in the Northern District of California on behalf of a nationwide class of restaurants claiming that Google, LLC has engaged in deceptive practices and misappropriation of their goodwill and tradenames by directing consumers to Google-operated pages for online ordering and delivery. The complaint explains that Google changed the way it displays restaurant search results in 2019, confusing customers into ordering through Google-designed ordering buttons and pages, thereby robbing the restaurants of direct online orders. Instead, customers are fooled into ordering through delivery service providers Google has contracted with, which charge exorbitant fees to the restaurants, says the complaint.

Could a Surge in Trademark Applications Delay Your Food or Beverage Business Launch?

When launching a new restaurant or food or beverage company, your plate is likely full enough. To add to the pile, this last year was no stranger to delays and pivots for businesses. And we’ve been noticing one more delay that may impact your new venture. Last month, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) posted a blog entry on its website addressing a development that trademark practitioners have been aware of for months: trademark applications have surged to unprecedented levels. This is causing a substantial delay in reviewing new trademark applications and other actions on the part of the USPTO. The impact of these delays on new restaurant and food businesses, among other industries, may be significant.