According to an article that I found from The Washington Post, Doctor's Affiliate, Inc., the company that owns Subway, has entered in to a fast food war. They want to copyright the word "footlong," as used in their famous, and very successful, "$5 Footlong" campaign. The Iowa based convenience store, Casey's General Store, has unwittingly been caught up in the linguistic battle with the sandwich giant, after they used "footlong" to advertise a submarine sandwich at their stores.Subway wants to be the only fast food franchise to be able to use the word.
Now, many fast food chains have been able to copyright their menu items; anything with "Mc" in front of a word (McNuggets, McFlurry) obviously belongs to McDonald's, if you order a Whopper, you must be at Burger King, and if you're enjoying a Frosty, a cute girl with red pigtails is on the cup.
I understand that every establishment wants something that is expressly it's own. You want the "Kleenex," the "Band-Aid," the "Windex" of the fast food industry, but...
"Foot long" is a measurement, and a has been a word, since measurement (and sub sandwiches) began. "Kleenex" isn't a word, it's a product, and the same goes for the McDouble, the Whopper Jr., and the Baconator.
Is it acceptable to copyright a measurement? I find no problem with Subway copyrighting "$5 Footlong." That phrase is already undeniably theirs! But to copyright a measurement means I will have to order a 12-inch hot dog when I'm at the ball park the next time. That just doesn't sound right...
Final summation; Subway didn't invent the sub sandwich, nor did they come up with the first foot long sub. For them to be able to use that word (or words) exclusively seems a little strange, and frankly, sad.
What is next, Subway? Taxing overweight people named Jerrod?
:P
~Bishop
