LONDON, England. Various portals in the United Kingdom have reported the news of a British franchise that sued the Mexican Michelle Salazar de la Rocha and her partner Sam Napier for using the word “taquería” in his business (Taquería Sonora), an issue that has blown up social networks.
According to reports from Eater London, the owners of Taquería Sonora received a cease and desist on the use of the word in their name and identity, but in Mexico the news has not been taken in a good way, since many consider that it is of a flagrant “cultural appropriation”because the dish and therefore this food twist has its origin in Mexican lands.
Worldwide Taqueria, the trading name for Taqueria, which operates locations in Notting Hill and Exmouth Market, alleges that use of the term by Sonora It constitutes “a trademark infringement”. According to Eater London, earlier this month, lawyers on behalf of Taqueria served the Sonora owners a 20-page letter.
They sue Mexicans in the United Kingdom for using the term taquería
The letter, seen by the publication, described the technical aspects of the alleged infringement of the Taquería trademarkin addition to all cases of alleged infringement.
“It’s so stupid”Salazar told Eater London. “And the response from Mexicans has been outrage. Because it’s ridiculous. There is no way to put it…and I guess you also remember the fact that everyone thinks there is no good Mexican food in the UK. But if you can’t even call your taco place a taqueria, where do you start? It’s another barrier.”
Basically, the general feeling we have is that it’s worth fighting,” Napier added.
Trademark infringement or cultural appropriation?
In response to a request for comments from Eater London Regarding the letter sent to Sonora, Ismael Muñoz, operations manager of Taqueria, said: “As with all trademark registrations in the United Kingdom, the provisions of the Trademark Law grant the owner the exclusive right of the registered trade mark, and those rights are infringed when the mark is used in the UK by another company without the owner’s consent.
As such, the use of TAQUERIA by Sonora Taqueria Ltd without the consent of Worldwide Taqueria Ltd constitutes trademark infringement.” this week and is highly regarded for its Mexican cuisine.
Officially installed in Arcade from tomorrow September 16, Mexa by Taqueria Sonora It will be ‘rooted in the pride and heritage’ of Mexican cuisine and will feature a menu of quesadillas, tacos and seafood.
In Mexico, a restaurant doesn’t actually serve seafood and tacos together, so Mexa has a central division: between a taqueria and a seafood place,” explains Napier.
The seafood item on the menu It will consist of two plates: ceviche de lobina (from sea bass), which includes toast covered with mayonnaise, cured sea bass ceviche in cold lemon, avocado and black sauce; and chile water (cured shrimp) on a plate with cucumber, red onion slices, black sauce, ground chiles and served with corn tortilla chips.
Mexa will also serve a variety of corn tortilla tacos including carnitas with pork confit, pickled onions and green sauce; spicy stewed lamb birria quesadillas served with a pot of consommé; and Governor, a famous taco created for a governor of Sinaloa made with sautéed shrimp, melted cheese and red sauce.