In a lawsuit filed Nov. 8 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, KFC has accused fellow fast-food fried chicken purveyor Church's Texas Chicken of violating its trademark rights by using the phrase "Original Recipe" in its advertisements and promotions.

KFC is taking one of its smaller rivals to court, suing Church's Texas Chicken for allegedly violating its trademark rights by using the phrase "Original Recipe" in pitching its fried poultry products.

KFC’s “Original Recipe” trademark, which it says is a secret blend of 11 herbs and spices, has long been part of the company’s branding. The blend is closely guarded, and the company calls it one of the most “iconic trade secrets in the food industry.” It first trademarked the phrase in 1984.

KFC has sued Church’s Texas Chicken, accusing the rival fast-food chain of violating its trademark rights in the phrase “Original Recipe.”

According to a report from Scripps News, KFC is accusing its fried chicken foe of stealing its trademarked “Original Recipe” phrase. The finger-pointing began last week when K

The San Antonio-born brand has been celebrating the return of its "legendary original recipe" in recent marketing.

Fast food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken or KFC recently accused Church’s Texas Chicken of infringing on its trademark by using the phrase “Original Recipe” in its marketing materials.

On behalf of all fried chicken lovers out there, we take it personally when another company tries to claim our iconic taste and branding as their own.'

KFC claims that Church's use of the phrase "original recipe" in its own advertisements "is likely to create confusion in the marketplace.

KFC claims Church’s use of the marketing phrase will deceive customers into thinking they are buying items from KFC.