Q&A on public relations and social media with Rob Crissinger

The "Taco Tuesday" controversy involving Wyoming-based Taco John's and Oklahoma City's Iguana Mexican Grill has fired up social media networks including Twitter and holds lessons for businesses, says Rob Crissinger, an Oklahoma City public relations consultant.

Published: August 4, 2010 Comment on this article

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'Taco Tuesday' controversy likely to benefit local restaurant

Q: The Wyoming-based chain Taco John's sent a cease-and-desist letter to locally owned Iguana Mexican Grill demanding that it stop using the trademarked phrase "Taco Tuesday." Can a company enforce a trademark on a phrase that appears to be used in restaurants and homes across the country?

A: If Taco John's has a legitimate trademark on the phrase, they certainly have the right to take legal action to enforce it. Can they do it successfully? The results of a Google search for "Taco Tuesday" lead me to believe they can't hope to have much of an impact on a national scale, and they'll never be able to control what customers think or say, or, as they're learning the hard way this week, tweet.

Q: The local social media world reacted with anger and ridicule toward Taco John's. Does the existence of social media change the pitfalls of how a corporation interacts with other businesses and communities?

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