Taco Bell has freed "Taco Tuesday" from the firm grip of Wyoming-based Taco John's, and now everyone is allowed to use it, except in New Jersey.
Taco John's, which has 380 locations across the country, has held the trademark to the term "Taco Tuesday" since 1989 and has defended it ever since, often sending cease-and-desist letters to businesses and media outlets who have used it. But a couple of months ago, Taco Bell launched a "Free Taco Tuesday" petition to convince the United States Patent and Trademark Office to drop the trademark, arguing that the term should belong to “all who make, sell, eat and celebrate tacos.” Their liberation efforts worked. Taco John's has agreed to give up the trademark and now everyone is allowed to use it, except in New Jersey where a local restaurant called Gregory's still refuses to give up its ownership of the term in the state.