Showing posts with label croissant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label croissant. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

"Cronut" Craze Inspires Trademark Filing Frenzy

Specimen of Use Submitted By Ansel to the Trademark Office

Greenwich Village New York pastry Chef Dominique Ansel, of the Dominique Ansel Bakery, claims to have launched the "CRONUT" -- a delectable pastry that is half-croissant, half-donut, in May 2013.  The line that forms outside the bakery each morning for the Cronut is reportedly 2 1/2 hours long.  Fans claim that the Cronut will "change your life."

Consequently, Ansel has filed for a federal trademark registration on the term as used in connection with baked goods. Wikipedia acknowledges Ansel as the creator of the pastry, and attributes the term to him, despite acknowledging the proliferation of imitators.  

Indeed, only weeks later, a Massachusetts individual named Stephen Foung filed an Intent-to-Use application with the Trademark Office for "THE CRONUT HOLE" as it would be used in connection with retail bakery shops.  Not long after that, a Texas establishment emerged, claiming that it intends to use the term "CRONUTS" in connection with baked goods and downloadable recipes. Bakery publications have dubbed the situation a "Cronut trademark scramble."

But Rosario Auddino of Auddino Bakeries, writes on that Ohio pastry shop's website:

The cronut !!!! WHAT ???? The DOUGHSSANT has been in Columbus/Hilliard Ohio for going on 20 years now.. 
Roy created this one night when he was covering a shift for an employee...New York can eat there hearts out ....The cronut has nothing on the...The DOUGHSSANT... 

Auddino similarly filed for a federal trademark on DOUGHSSANT in May, claiming a first use in commerce in 1994.

No word yet from the USPTO on who owns the trademark CRONUT, nor from critics on who makes the best pastry, but we will accept free samples and render a verdict on the latter.