[Thurston_Howell_III]

As a side note, best sandwich I've ever had called "The Al Roker" and it was from a local shop in Oswego, NY.

In the comments section to the article someone wrote: "Subway lawyers have also sent a cease-and-desist letter to the MTA. The MTA must now refer to that thing underneath the streets of New York as an “Underground Railroad.”

[maddog55]

The Al Roker... was the a 1’ diameter sandwich?

[scory]

Last time I ate a Subway sandwich I had the runs for a day-and-a-half.

[brownsfan]

So, when I was a kid, and we bought footlong hot dogs, and simply called them footlongs... we were infringing on Subway’s future rights?!

Who knew?

[massgopguy]

Coney Island is an American Institution. Subway is dog food.

[GeronL]

They were not the first shops to sell 12” sandwiches.

[massgopguy]

Coney Island is an American Institution. Subway is dog food.

[Wonder Warthog]

I think they’re going to have problems, “footlong” hot dogs having been part of the public vernacular for a VERY long time. And I assume a hot dog in bun qualifies as fitting into the category of “sandwich”.

[FourPeas]

NPR called Subway, which admitted it was a clerical error. Kevin Kane, a Subway spokesman, told Goldstein that it’s only trying to trademark “footlong” for sandwiches, not for other foods.

Subway thinks this makes their claim less ridiculous?

[frankenMonkey]

The fact that someone "has applied for the trademark" doesn't mean much.

[MamaTexan]

"Subway" Trying To Trademark "Footlong"

Maybe Sonic Drive Ins will sue Subway. They've had foot long hot-dogs since I was in high school.

Who ever heard of trademarking a measurement?

What's next? A license to say 'inchworm'?

Geesh!

[CitizenUSA]

Subway has already recanted on this. They are only trying to trademark “footlong” when it is used in regards to sandwiches. Still, I’d deny their request if I worked in the trademark office. A quick check with Google reveals several other companies using footlong in regards to sandwiches.

[CitizenUSA]

Here’s a link to a related blog post on the issue. Seems they agree numerous other companies are using footlong in conjunction with sandwiches.

http://legalblogwatch.typepad.com/legal_blog_watch/2010/05/subway-says-other-footlong-sandwich-sellers-violating-its-trademark.html

[Abathar]

It’s BS like this that will lose them business in the long run too.

When people see Subway throwing their legal weight around against little shops that have been using the term footlong for decades before there even was a Subway it makes them think twice before walking through the door.

Attempting to increase your sales by hurting smaller competitors has never worked out well once John Q Public hears about it in this country.

[null and void]

Sorry Subway, "Footlong" has been a part of American culture for over a centurty.

You may as well try trademarking "Sandwich"

[luvbach1]

I doubt that they were registered trademarks, but foot-long hot dogs from any number of sources pre-date Subway by many decades.

[decisis]

I think John Holmes was the first to coin the phrase “footlong sandwich.”

[Brett66]

I have trademarked the term “foot” and “long” separately, Subway is about to get sued for Bazillion dollars.

[luvbach1]

Reminds me of Spike Lee trying to own the name Spike (he lost). Spike Jones had it first.

[bert]

Subway could probably trademark “Lettuce Sandwich” and no one would object to that reality.

[CT-Freeper]

Their quick, short reply should be:

"No."