What happened
Chef David Chang is facing public outrage after his Momofuku food line attempted to trademark "Chili Crunch," and sent cease-and-desist letters to other companies before the trademark was approved.
Who said what
Momofuku "intentionally picked 'Chili Crunch' to further differentiate it from the broader chili crisp category," a spokesperson said. This is the work of "trademark bullies" who think trademarks are for going after "all companies big and small with abandon," said Fly by Jing chef Jing Gao.
The commentary
Trademarks like this box out rivals and "limit who can profit off a food with a connection to entire cultures," the Los Angeles Times said. This is like "going after the term 'hot sauce' or 'ketchup' or 'mustard,'" recipe developer and author James Park told The Washington Post.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What next?
The trademark application process "typically" takes 12 to 18 months, The Independent said, and Momofuku will need to prove that the phrase "chili crunch" has "distinctiveness through extensive use in commerce over many years."
-
Charlamagne Tha God irks Trump with Epstein talkSpeed Read The radio host said the Jeffrey Epstein scandal could help 'traditional conservatives' take back the Republican Party
-
Critics' choice: Delights from the African diasporaFeature Mahari in Chicago, Kabawa in New York City and Elmina in Washington, D.C.
-
Food trails are the best trails. Eat your way across the US with these 7 regional food journeys.The Week Recommends Take a bite out of the United States
-
CBS cancels Colbert's 'Late Show'Speed Read 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' is ending next year
-
The 2025 James Beard Award winnersFeature Featuring a casually elegant restaurant, recipes nearly lost to war, and more
-
Summer in Seattle: Outdoor dining like nowhere elseFeature Featuring a patio with a waterfront view, a beer garden, and more
-
Critics' choice: Carrying the flagFeature The best barbecue in town, Bradley Cooper's cheesesteak restaurant, and more
-
8 recipes that require minimal effort for the best kind of summer eatingThe Week Recommends It's the season of grilling and smart desserts
