Barbecue aficionados and legal eagles alike are turning their attention to a trademark tussle in Chicago, where local favorite Smoque BBQ has filed a complaint against global grill manufacturer Weber. The crux of the dispute centers on Weber's newest product, a pellet smoker dubbed Weber Smoque, which Smoque BBQ claims infringes upon their trademark and could sow confusion among consumers. Smoque BBQ owner Barry Sorkin, who has built up the restaurant's brand since its 2006 inception, expressed his disappointment in a news release, noting a shared connection with Chicago barbecue lovers and a wish that Weber "show a little more respect for a local small business," according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
The issue came to light earlier this year when Weber, now operating under the name Weber Blackstone, released its pellet smoker and Sorkin saw potential trouble brewing, pondering over a scenario where a customer could mistake a Weber product for being associated with his restaurant, which over the years has also introduced its range of rubs and sauces, in addition to participating in prominent local events such as the Windy City Smokeout, this risk of confusion is one that Sorkin and his team are trying to avoid at all costs, Weber in their defense has maintained that there is no likelihood of consumers mistaking their outdoor cooking appliances with Smoque BBQ, and provided a statement to the Eater affirming their respect for Smoque BBQ and underscoring their mutually different contributions to Chicago's food culture.
Weber's response to Smoque's concerns, as received by Sorkin's attorney, minimized the trademarked name's strength and the potential for customer confusion between the two brands, despite their shared focus on barbecue, and despite Weber's knowledge of Smoque BBQ's presence in the local barbecue community, they further explained that as Weber does not operate any restaurants under the Weber Smoque mark, the risk of associating the smoker with the eatery should be nonexistent, this is a point of contention clearly outlined in the response from Weber's attorney, indicating that there are no plans to allow the restaurants to use the smoker's name, as reported by Eater.
With legal responses pending as early as July, Sorkin isn't idly waiting by, the restaurant has launched an online petition to drum up support in this David-versus-Goliath scenario, where they've already seen a solidarity turnout with over 381 signatures to date, demonstrating a clear community backing for their cause, amid this trademark battle Sorkin maintains his stance, he's not pursuing a boycott or inflaming Weber fans against the grill giant, but simply standing his ground to protect the brand he's worked diligently to build which resonates well with the scrappy underdog spirit embraced by much of Smoque's loyal customer base, as he told Eater, "If they're looking for a nice, professional — but assertive way — to make their voices heard, we’d love to have them sign our petition."
