Had the owner’s of BATS BBQ in Rock Hill, SC, not attempted to file a trademark application for their logo (see image to the left), they probably wouldn’t have drawn the attention of lawyers for DC Comics, who say the bat icon used in the logo is a little too similar to one of the many Batman logos they have already trademarked.

BATS is a (sort of) acronym for Beau And TraviS’ restaurant, so it only seems appropriate that the BBQ joint would have a flying rodent in its logo.

But when they applied to register their trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office last spring, they ended up receiving a cease-and-desist letter from the legal superheros at DC Comics.

“Our bat is not their bat,” explains the father of one of eatery’s owners. He says the logo was designed on the family’s home computer.

Rather than simply go with a different bat image, the folks at BATS have opted to put up a fight.

“Sometimes you just can’t walk away,” said the family patriarch. “Sometimes you just have to do it.”

Their lawyer for the restaurant believes they have a chance to win their appeal because the restaurant does not have a movie or comic-book theme.

What do you think? Should the restaurant fight the cease-and-desist or should they just change their logo?

Bats BBQ fights Batman maker over trademark rights [HeraldOnline.com]

Thanks to Robert for the tip!

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