“World’s Greatest Hamburgers” (Fuddruckers slogan)

Fuddruckers is a chain of hamburger restaurants that started in San Antonio in 1980. The hamburgers (1/2 pound of beef) are large, and there is a fixins bar for customers to dress their burgers. Fuddruckers is currently based in Austin, Texas.
 
The name “Fuddruckers” is made up; early documents show that “Freddie Fuddruckers” was sometimes used by the company. The name “Freddie Fuddruckers” was possibly influenced by the 1970s Texas cocktail, “Freddie Fudpucker.”
 
Fuddruckers’ slogan, “World’s Greatest Hamburgers,” was trademarked with a date of first use of March 15, 1980. Farmer Boys (a California hamburger restaurant chain) also trademarked “World’s Greatest Hamburgers,” with a date of first use of August 1981. Both trademarks make no exclusive claim to the term “World’s Greatest Hamburgers.”
 
 
Wikipedia: Fuddruckers
Fuddruckers is an American fast casual franchised chain restaurant that specializes in hamburgers. It was founded in 1980 in San Antonio, Texas, by Philip J. Romano, in a location converted to a restaurant from an old bank. The store’s website says Romano chose the name “because the man had a sense of humor.” Fuddruckers has over 200 locations around the world, most of which have a 1950s and 1960s Rock and roll theme. The current owner, Michael Cannon, purchased the chain in November 1998, and it is currently based in Austin, Texas.
 
Fuddruckers is notable for its large burger patties (up to one pound) and self-service toppings bar. Customers first order a base burger, either plain or with specialty toppings (like sauces, sautéed onions or guacamole). The burger is then provided open-faced to the customer, who then takes it to the toppings bar and adds fresh vegetables and seasonings. Fuddruckers also offers multiple cheese toppings, including nacho cheese.
     
Fuddruckers: About Fuddruckers
Back in 1980, a simple Texan began a singular quest. He searched high and low throughout his hometown of San Antonio, seeking the best that a hamburger could be.
 
He hungered for perfection in an imperfect world. All he found were warmed-over compromises between bland slices of bread. The burger culture had sullied an American institution.
 
“Ketchup can cover up only so much, and antacids aren’t good desserts,” he told himself.
 
Then in the still of a sultry summer night, a voice spoke to him. “Build it and they will top it with fresh fixin’s.”
   
While he wasn’t exactly sure what the message meant—and there were no follow-up communications—the Texan did the only thing he knew to do.
 
Finding mediocrity unacceptable, he took a wrong and made it right. he took the frozen and made it fresh. He built his own burger and his own burger place. And then because the man had a sense of humor, he named this place Fuddruckers.
(...)
Today, Fuddruckers stand as a shrine to the Burger Arts—and the only place in the world where you can find the World’s Greatest Hamburgers.
   
New York (NY) Times
BUSINESS PEOPLE; Founder of Fuddruckers Goes On to Next Course
By DANIEL F. CUFF
Published: November 9, 1988
Why did Philip J. Romano open a restaurant called Freddie Fuddruckers in 1979? ‘‘I thought the world needed a better hamburger,’’ he said.
 
Mr. Romano, who originated the concept of the upscale hamburger, is pushing on to tacos and macaroni. Last week he left as a director of Fuddruckers, now a chain of some 150 restaurants, to concentrate on his new enterprises.
 
’‘I’m still a friend of the company,’’ Mr. Romano said. ‘‘I just felt I had done all I could do for the concept, and it was time for me to step down and do other things I wanted to do.’’
 
Mr. Romano had already stepped down as chairman and chief executive of the San Antonio-based chain in 1985. At that time, he recalls, he tried doing nothing, but ‘‘I went crazy, and I found there were still things I needed to do.’’
 
One of them has been to open Romano’s Macaroni Grill ‘‘down the street from where I live’’ in San Antonio. He is thinking of developing that idea, and next spring he plans to open a New York City restaurant to be called Texas Tortilla Bakeries, featuring the soft taco.
   
(Trademark)
Word Mark FUDDRUCKERS
Goods and Services IC 042. US 100. G & S: Restaurant Services. FIRST USE: 19800315. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19800315
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 73382882
Filing Date August 31, 1982
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition July 17, 1984
Registration Number 1298164
Registration Date September 25, 1984
Owner (REGISTRANT) Fuddruckers, Inc. CORPORATION TEXAS 8602 Botts La. San Antonio TEXAS 78217
(LAST LISTED OWNER) MAGIC BRANDS, LLC LTD LIAB CO DELAWARE 5700 SO. MOPAC EXPRESSWAY BUILDING C 300 AUSTIN TEXAS 78749
Assignment Recorded ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Attorney of Record Richard L. Schwartz
Prior Registrations 1192673
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Affidavit Text SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR). SECTION 8(10-YR) 20040908.
Renewal 1ST RENEWAL 20040908
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE
     
(Trademark)
Word Mark WORLD’S GREATEST HAMBURGERS
Goods and Services IC 042. US 100 101. G & S: restaurant services. FIRST USE: 19800315. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19800315
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 75278264
Filing Date April 21, 1997
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition December 8, 1998
Registration Number 2256324
Registration Date June 29, 1999
Owner (REGISTRANT) Fuddruckers, Inc. CORPORATION TEXAS One Corporate Place 55 Ferncroft Road Danvers MASSACHUSETTS 019234001
(LAST LISTED OWNER) MAGIC BRANDS, LLC LTD LIAB CO DELAWARE 5700 SO. MOPAC EXPRESSWAY BUILDING C 300 AUSTIN TEXAS 78749
Assignment Recorded ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Attorney of Record RICHARD L SCHWARTZ
Prior Registrations 1192673
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL-2(F)
Affidavit Text SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR).
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE
 
(Trademark)
Word Mark FUDDRUCKERS WORLD’S GREATEST HAMBURGERS
Goods and Services IC 042. US 100 101. G & S: restaurant services. FIRST USE: 19900501. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19900501
Mark Drawing Code (3) DESIGN PLUS WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS
Design Search Code 24.05.02 - Seals having some other shape
24.09.07 - Advertising, banners; Banners
Serial Number 75581332
Filing Date November 2, 1998
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition November 2, 1999
Registration Number 2311292
Registration Date January 25, 2000
Owner (REGISTRANT) MAGIC RESTAURANTS, LLC LIMITED LIABILITY CORPORATION DELAWARE 66 Cherry Hill Drive Beverly MASSACHUSETTS 01915
(LAST LISTED OWNER) MAGIC BRANDS, LLC LTD LIAB CO DELAWARE 5700 SO. MOPAC EXPRESSWAY BUILDING C 300 AUSTIN TEXAS 78749
Assignment Recorded ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Attorney of Record Richard L. Schwartz
Prior Registrations 1192673;1298164;1326226;1424425;AND OTHERS
Disclaimer NO CLAIM IS MADE TO THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO USE “WORLD’S GREATEST HAMBURGERS” APART FROM THE MARK AS SHOWN
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Affidavit Text SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR).
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE
 
(Trademark)
Word Mark FARMER BOYS WORLD’S GREATEST HAMBURGERS
Goods and Services IC 042. US 100. G & S: RESTAURANT SERVICES. FIRST USE: 19810800. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19810800
Mark Drawing Code (3) DESIGN PLUS WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS
Design Search Code 08.05.01 - Hamburger sandwiches
Serial Number 73802108
Filing Date May 23, 1989
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition February 20, 1990
Registration Number 1686851
Registration Date May 12, 1992
Owner (REGISTRANT) ANDREW’S SONS, INC. CORPORATION CALIFORNIA 3452 UNIVERSITY AVENUE RIVERSIDE CALIFORNIA 92501
Attorney of Record STEPHEN R. SECCOMBE
Disclaimer NO CLAIM IS MADE TO THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO USE “WORLD’S GREATEST HAMBURGERS” AND THE REPRESENTATION OF THE HAMBURGER APART FROM THE MARK AS SHOWN
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Affidavit Text SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR). SECTION 8(10-YR) 20020724.
Renewal 1ST RENEWAL 20020724
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE