Fast food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken or KFC recently accused Church’s Texas Chicken of infringing on its trademark by using the phrase “Original Recipe” in its marketing materials.

KFC’s “Original Recipe” trademark, which it says is a secret blend of 11 herbs and spices, has long been part of the company’s branding. The blend is closely guarded, and the company calls it one of the most “iconic trade secrets in the food industry.” It first trademarked the phrase in 1984.

KFC accused Church’s Texas Chicken of violating its trademark rights when it began using the words “Original Recipe” in its advertising and promotions.

KFC filed a lawsuit after claiming a letter they sent on October 24 objecting to Church's ads that boast "our original recipe is back" was ignored. CNN reports that the phrase "or

In a new lawsuit filed in US District Court in Texas, KFC is accusing Church's of violating its trademark rights when, according to KFC, the competing chain "abruptly" began using