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Tiny dog costs Taco Bell big -
Jewish World Review ^ | September 12, 2003

Posted on 09/12/2003 10:10:03 AM PDT by UnklGene

Tiny dog costs Taco Bell big

http://www.jewishworldreview.com | (KRT) Dinky, the Chihuahua who led the taco revolution, has taken another bite out of "the Bell."

A federal judge ordered Taco Bell on Thursday to pay an additional $11.8 million in interest to the two Michigan men who created the idea of the talking dog, which was best known to TV viewers for uttering, "Yo quiero Taco Bell."

The award brings the total verdict against the Mexican fast-food chain to about $42 million, said Doug Dozeman, an attorney with Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Warner, Norcross & Judd, which represented Joseph Shields and Thomas Rinks.

Dozeman said Shields and Rinks have not decided what they will do with the total award, which could be delayed at least two years in appeals.

"We still believe the Chihuahua character was independently created," said Taco Bell spokeswoman Laurie Schalow.

She said the company intends to appeal the $30.2-million verdict awarded in June and the $11.8 million in interest. Louisville, Ky.-based Yum! Brands Inc., which owns Taco Bell, said it will seek reimbursement from its insurance carriers if its appeal fails.

A jury determined Taco Bell had stolen the idea of Dinky.

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


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: tacobell; workingdogs; yoquiero; yoquieroalawyer

1 posted on 09/12/2003 10:10:03 AM PDT by UnklGene
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To: UnklGene
This looks like a job for just damn.
2 posted on 09/12/2003 10:13:12 AM PDT by biblewonk (Spose to be a Chrisssssssstian)
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To: UnklGene
Heh. I work in a building immediately adjacent to Yum! Brands World HQ. I bet they're crying into their fryers over there today! $42M – that's a lot of tacos! Yo quiero las leyes de la propiedad intelectual!
3 posted on 09/12/2003 10:13:47 AM PDT by B-Chan (Catholic. Monarchist. Texan. Any questions?)
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To: UnklGene
Good thing it wasn't a Great Dane.
4 posted on 09/12/2003 10:14:24 AM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: UnklGene
Al Gore invented Chihuahuas.
5 posted on 09/12/2003 10:14:38 AM PDT by KarlInOhio (Fight Czarism in America!)
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To: UnklGene
"We still believe the Chihuahua character was independently created," said Taco Bell spokeswoman Laurie Schalow.

Yes it was. It was my creation. Where's my lawyer!

6 posted on 09/12/2003 10:15:56 AM PDT by Flyer (I left my tag line in Humblegunner's truck)
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To: UnklGene; FourPeas
Joseph Shields = joecartoon.com

They guy brilliantly funny. I know him and I'm glad he won the suit. Hey FP! Local GR guy gets big money!

7 posted on 09/12/2003 10:16:03 AM PDT by rintense (9-11-01: Never Forget.)
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To: KarlInOhio
Is the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, aware of their copyright infringement?
8 posted on 09/12/2003 10:17:00 AM PDT by Pan_Yans Wife ("Life isn't fair. It's fairer than death, is all.")
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To: UnklGene; biblewonk
Yum! Brands Inc., which owns Taco Bell

Next, expect a truth-in-advertising lawsuit.

9 posted on 09/12/2003 10:17:12 AM PDT by newgeezer (Just my opinion, of course. Your mileage may vary. You have the right to be wrong.)
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To: rintense
They= The. Where's the coffee?
10 posted on 09/12/2003 10:17:55 AM PDT by rintense (9-11-01: Never Forget.)
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To: UnklGene
A great Bill Clinton cartoon here
11 posted on 09/12/2003 10:23:27 AM PDT by rintense (9-11-01: Never Forget.)
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To: KarlInOhio
A moose bit my chee-hooa-hooa once...
12 posted on 09/12/2003 10:31:21 AM PDT by talleyman (Moose lips sink ships)
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To: UnklGene
the Mexican fast-food chain

As a fan of Mexican food, I take offense at that statement.

13 posted on 09/12/2003 10:46:58 AM PDT by jae471
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To: nutmeg
.
14 posted on 09/12/2003 4:01:02 PM PDT by nutmeg (Is the DemocRATic party extinct yet?)
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To: talleyman
A moose bit my chee-hooa-hooa once...

LOL!!! (I didn't realize Les Nessman was a Freeper!)

15 posted on 09/12/2003 4:10:17 PM PDT by GreenHornet
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To: jae471
It relates to Mexican food in about the same way McDonalds relates to hamburgers. In the most broad technical sense they are correct.
16 posted on 09/12/2003 4:13:04 PM PDT by discostu (just a tuna sandwich from another catering service)
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To: UnklGene
Yo quiero dinero.
17 posted on 09/12/2003 4:14:06 PM PDT by Redcloak (All work and no FReep makes Jack a dull boy. All work and no FReep make s Jack a dul boy. Allwork an)
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To: UnklGene
A jury determined Taco Bell had stolen the idea of Dinky.

This sentence, taken and read by itself, just cost me another keyboard.

18 posted on 09/12/2003 4:16:00 PM PDT by strela (It is not true that Larry Flynt's biggest financial donor is Dicker and Dicker of Beverly Hills.)
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To: jae471
As a fan of Mexican food, I take offense at that statement.

They call it "Taco Hell" around here for a darned good reason.

19 posted on 09/12/2003 4:17:03 PM PDT by strela (It is not true that Larry Flynt's biggest financial donor is Dicker and Dicker of Beverly Hills.)
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