A Pennsylvania celebration of a popular Polish treat is embroiled in a food fight after a suburban Chicago chamber of commerce threatened a trademark infringement lawsuit over the use of the name "Pierogi Festival."
Lawyers for the Whiting Pierogi Fest in Indiana recently sent a letter demanding the Edwardsville Hometown Committee stop using the name or pay royalties.
Citing a "Pierogi Fest" trademark in use since 1994 and registered a decade ago, the letter calls the Pennsylvania festival name "unfair competition" and "likely to cause consumer confusion."
Pennsylvania lawyers said in a federal suit Monday that the Edwardsville festival isn't a competitor and the general name isn't trademark infringement.
The fourth annual Edwardsville Pierogi Festival was held in June. The 23rd edition of the Whiting Pierogi Fest was held last weekend.