Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

WING MAN BESTS HOOTERS (battle of the breastrants a bust for Hooters)
NY POST ^ | December 4, 2004 | RICHARD WILNER

Posted on 12/04/2004 1:23:49 AM PST by Liz

A federal jury has stripped Hooters waitresses of any legal protection their skimpy uniforms may have afforded, allowing a rival Florida wings chain to continue to dress its waitresses in equally skimpy outfits.

The Orlando, Fla., jury also ordered Hooters to pay the rival, a 16-restaurant chain called Ker's Winghouse owned by former Dallas Cowboys standout lineman Crawford Ker, $1.2 million in damages because Hooters filed suit six years after promising to take all disagreements between the two companies to arbitration.

Hooters tried to bar Winghouse waitresses from wearing their skimpy black shorts and T-shirts by claiming the orange-and-white-clad female staff was the company's Ronald McDonald icon.

.....during the three-week trial, defense lawyer Don Conwell got a Hooters marketing executive to admit on the stand that the busty wait staff were more of a marketing concept used to lure 25- to 49-year old-men into the eateries.......

Businesses can't legally protect marketing plans.

In the battle of the so- called "breastrants," Hooters also attempted to convince the jury that its success was tied to its wood- weave plates and that Winghouse was copying the plates, thus confusing patrons as to which restaurant they were in.

A 20-year Hooters waitress-turned-executive, however, pointed out from the stand that the two companies' interiors were very distinct, with each Winghouse featuring an island bar and pool tables, which Hooters do not.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News
KEYWORDS: breastwars; greathooters; hooters; whogivesahoot
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-79 next last
Please, guys, let's keep it family-oriented. No pics, huh?
1 posted on 12/04/2004 1:23:50 AM PST by Liz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Liz

I think everyone wore themselves out on the 'bare breasts in church' story, Liz.


2 posted on 12/04/2004 1:30:52 AM PST by leadpenny
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Liz

If you didn't want the pics why the post?

(I'd oblige with pics, but I'm Technologically Declined and both of my sons are asleep!)


3 posted on 12/04/2004 1:33:00 AM PST by shibumi (John Galt is alive and well. He tends bar in a casino restaurant.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: leadpenny

Yeah, good timing on my part.


4 posted on 12/04/2004 1:36:48 AM PST by Liz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: shibumi
If you didn't want the pics why the post?

This is a legitimate business story with important issues dealing with marketing and trademarks.

5 posted on 12/04/2004 1:38:02 AM PST by Liz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Liz
"let's keep it family-oriented"


6 posted on 12/04/2004 1:39:27 AM PST by endthematrix ("Hey, it didn't hit a bone, Colonel. Do you think I can go back?" - U.S. Marine)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: shibumi
Interesting (if only marginally off-topic) factoid: some minor, low grade fly-by-night publisher, a few years back, attempted to cash in on the whole "Hooters" thing by publishing -- believe it or not -- an actual comic book, with a busty waitress named "Halle" as its crime-fighting heroine:

I know... I know: Too Much Totally Useless Information stashed away, up here. [::taps forehead::] :)

7 posted on 12/04/2004 1:42:57 AM PST by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle (I feel more and more like a revolted Charlton Heston, witnessing ape society for the very first time)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Liz
Sorry, I was mislead by the parenthetical caption "Battle of the Breastrants a Bust for Hooters". I should have known this was deadly serious business. (I'll crawl back in my hole with my hot wings and Hooter Girl Calendar.....)
8 posted on 12/04/2004 1:45:36 AM PST by shibumi (John Galt is alive and well. He tends bar in a casino restaurant.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle

You have, I think, just qualified yourself as an official KOOK (Keeper Of Odd Knowledge). Welcome to the club!


9 posted on 12/04/2004 1:48:42 AM PST by shibumi (John Galt is alive and well. He tends bar in a casino restaurant.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: endthematrix

That's the spirit. Really cute (sniff).


10 posted on 12/04/2004 1:49:28 AM PST by Liz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Liz

Hooters: A Case Study
Fortune-9-2003.pdf

http://www.hooters.com/Hooters-Fortune-9-2003.pdf


11 posted on 12/04/2004 1:50:53 AM PST by endthematrix ("Hey, it didn't hit a bone, Colonel. Do you think I can go back?" - U.S. Marine)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: shibumi

Fer God's sakes, try and learnn the rules here, newbie, huh? Jest b/c a header has the word "bust" in it is no reason to get your testosterone out of order. Cheez.


12 posted on 12/04/2004 1:51:33 AM PST by Liz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Liz

They start 'em young...on chicken wings, that is.


13 posted on 12/04/2004 1:53:13 AM PST by endthematrix ("Hey, it didn't hit a bone, Colonel. Do you think I can go back?" - U.S. Marine)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Liz
a 16-restaurant chain called Ker's Winghouse owned by former Dallas Cowboys standout lineman Crawford Ker,

Crawford Ker was such an outstanding lineman that this sentence is the first time I have heard or seen his name in my life. I would have remembered it.

14 posted on 12/04/2004 1:53:30 AM PST by L.N. Smithee (Despite all your rage, you are still Democrats in a cage!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: shibumi
Thanks. :) Here's the whole silly story behind the crappy comic in question , if you're interested.

My understanding is that, ultimately, Hooters either sued the publisher into Ceasing and Desisting, or else (at the very least) credibly threatened them into doing so. No great loss, either way. :)

15 posted on 12/04/2004 1:54:31 AM PST by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle (I feel more and more like a revolted Charlton Heston, witnessing ape society for the very first time)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle

Man, how long have you stored that in your image file, just waiting for such a day as this?


16 posted on 12/04/2004 1:54:31 AM PST by Liz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Liz

It's this mid-life crisis I've been going through for the last 15 or 16 years. Guess I'll just have to call up Kandi, Bambi, Misty or Randee and see if any of them want to go for a ride in my new 'Vette.


17 posted on 12/04/2004 1:55:23 AM PST by shibumi (John Galt is alive and well. He tends bar in a casino restaurant.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: L.N. Smithee

Phew, what a relief. I thought it was only me that thought, Crawford who?


18 posted on 12/04/2004 1:56:10 AM PST by Liz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Liz
Man, how long have you stored that in your image file, just waiting for such a day as this?

As long as you've been around here, Liz: you surely must have noticed my mania for comic books , long before this.

I never, EVER need any real "reason" to geek out over this subject. :)

19 posted on 12/04/2004 1:57:16 AM PST by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle (I feel more and more like a revolted Charlton Heston, witnessing ape society for the very first time)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: shibumi
Bambi says "hi."

"Hi."

20 posted on 12/04/2004 1:58:11 AM PST by Liz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-79 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson