As the news media waits on baited breath for the next
insensitive statement from NBA Billionaire owner Donald Sterling, another group
of Billionaires who own sports teams are going after a Jefferson Parish small
businessman.
For years, consumers flocked to Phil’s Grill on Severn in
Metairie for custom burgers that are built to the customer’s specifications.
Business was so good that owner Phil de Gruy opened up a second JP location in
Harahan and, several months back, opened his first New Orleans location on Camp
Street.
In addition to serving great burgers (and awesome Fried Pickles by the way), Phil has always given
back to the community. He calls it “PHILantrophy” and Phil’s Grill was just
honored for the 5th time by the National Restaurant Association as a
Louisiana Good Neighbor Restaurant for their community work. Each year, in May, Phil’s holds “Burger
Palooza”, where celebrity burgers can be purchased and proceeds are distributed
to charity.
A couple of years back, Phil started a similar promotion in
the Fall tied to Saints games. “The Burger Bowl” featured a weekly burger
patterned after whomever the Saints opponent was that Sunday. Burgers ranged
from “The Carolina Prancer Burger” (A spicy pork burger, with Carolina BBQ
sauce, coleslaw, tomato and Swiss cheese on an onion bun – I kinda wish I could
have one right now) to Phil’s version of a Buffalo, NY staple, “Beef on Weck”
when the Saints took on the Bills.
Last year, proceeds from the sale of the
“Burger Bowl” entrants went to the Team Gleason Foundation to support the
battle against ALS and in a prior year, the proceeds went to Bonnabel High
School’s Pro-Start program which trains students in the culinary arts and
restaurant management.
Well, now it seems that the NFL (who some refer to as the
“No Fun League”), has an issue with the “Burger Bowl” and the awarding of the “Lom-Burger
Trophy” .
Despite filing pending trademark applications for the “Burger
Bowl” and the “Lom-Burger Trophy” design, which is good-naturedly patterned
after the “Lombardi Trophy”, given to the Super Bowl winner, the NFL is trying
to stop Phil’s Grill.
Here’s an excerpt from the letter that NFL attorneys sent to Phil’s attorney:
"We are concerned that, because our marks and your client's
applied-for mark are similar, it may cause the public to mistakenly believe
that your client's goods and/or services are authorized or sponsored by or are
somehow affiliated with the NFL or its Member Clubs. Moreover, such use could
cause dilution of our famous mark, and otherwise negatively impact our rights,
including through trademark infringement, unfair competition and
misappropriation. Accordingly, we would like to better understand how your
client intends use the PHIL'S GRILL BURGER BOWL mark…"
Seriously?
I don’t know about you but I don’t think I would mistake the
real “Lombardi Trophy” for a trophy that was a pyramid with Phil’s portrait on
it and topped by a hamburger, even if such a “Lom-Burger Trophy” actually
existed.
You see, the “Lom-Burger Trophy” is only used on t-shirts
and plastic cups (which are used to promote the “Burger Bowl” and raise even
more money for a former Saints’ charity).
Here’s hoping that the NFL realizes the foolishness of their
actions and let’s a JP businessman continue making great burgers and giving
back to the community.
