A restaurant has gone viral after they copied trademarked menu items from In-N-Out Burger, after which they were promptly issued a cease-and-desist. The owner, however, took it all in good humor. It all started when Fairplay Sports Bar decided to celebrate National Cheeseburger Day on Sept.
18, with the release of two items they playfully named the Double Double Burger and Animal Fries. Both are, of course, well-known items sold at In-N-Out burger. Speaking of the decision to copy the chain’s products, owner Shane Gerde revealed they were “largely inspired” by the fast food giant.
“They’re awesome dishes. It’s just a pumped-up variation of what you might have done at a drive-thru restaurant, but instead, you get to enjoy it in an atmosphere that’s a local neighborhood spot,” he revealed, explaining his own take on the dishes. After Gerde put the Double Double burger and Animal Fries on the menu, In-N-Out got in contact, handing them a legal notice that they should “cease” their use of the trademark.
Instead of falling into a flurry of panic, Gerde was overjoyed to receive a letter from the burger joint, and celebrated by posting a copy on social media. “Cease & Desist what you’re doing right now, you’ve got to see this,” he wrote before proclaiming: “We’ve officially been recognized by Big Burger!” The restaurant complied with the terms of the letter issued by In-N-Out, and renamed their products to ‘In-N-Grab a Burger Burger’ and ‘Secr.
