Food and Drinq

Much ado about nothing, last time I checked you couldn't copyright a color. The logos are different as well.

Philly's is 3 courses for $30, SJ's is 4 courses for 30 - that's a major difference.

Restaurant Week is not an original idea, it was started in NYC in the early 90's.

Message to Paul Levy: Do a Google on "Restaurant Week." Every community in America worth its sea salt has a theme like that. Oh, I see, it's the ad that's giving you agita too? What do you want to do, copyright the primary colors? Seems to me to be all-around bad PR for Philly. Your energy will be best spent by improving Philly's version of this common marketing technique.

PHILLY or SJ...what really matters is that at a time when national chains are swallowing up diner dollars, Restaurant Week is the best showcase for the talent and cuisine of some of the areas best chefs, often serving four star cuisine at any day prices.
There certainly are enough appetites to go around that many tables. All that the suit has done for me, is leave me with a "sour taste" along with a side order of overpriced Center City parking. Shame, shame...

I think Paul Levy has "gone too far." Truth be told, Philly's Restaurant Week ad could use a little cleaning up. You're going to pay your lawyers to fight in court over that ad? Philly Restaurant Week must be a pretty profitable event for the CCD.

NEW YORK created restaurant week in 1992 during the democratic national convention to lure patrons into their restaurants.In NEW JERSEY,,corporate sponsors,farmers and civic groups all participate not only in restaurant week but for fund raising charitable events throughout the year.the concept and advertising of restaurant week was not created by philadelphia for the exclusive use of philadelphia.South street staged their own restaurant week in june of 2006 and to the best of my knowledge no law suits were filed against them.NEW YORK,SAN DIEGO and many other cities created advertising brocures that are the same color and format as philadelphia.This frivolous lawsuit gives the appearance that the philly chefs are trying to use the political system to crush any form of competition.However ,competition has already benefited the consumer in new jersey and the publicity will bring support and attention to the great chefs in south jersy.

What a litigious socity we live in!
The chain restaurants serve "me too" meals while SJ Hot Chefs are putting out some of the finest and delectable meals, rivaling the NY restaurants, for the first time.
MAYBE, if Center City Restaurant Week would concentrate more on their cuisine they wouldn't have to be so concerned about lawsuits or "SJ Hot Chefs".

The ads can't be considered "confusingly similar" unless the Center City District thinks guests might not know which side of the river they're dining on. When you see an ad that says, "SJ Restaurant Week" you do understand that SJ stands for South Jersey, right?

This law suit is all around unecessary. It is horrible PR for philadelphia independent restaurants. Why not spend the enegery and resources fighting real infringments on independent restaurants then stating a fued with South Jersey independent restaurants who share the same end goals?

The idea has been done many times in many cities. As for the comment that the adds are "confusingly similar," as far as I am concerned consumers are smart enough to make sure they end up on the right side of the river. Frivilous!

We all should realize that Phila Center City District TAXPAYERS are paying for this nonsensical frivolous lawsuit.
CCD has a $14 million budget this year & they want $18 mil next year. Over Five mil is for "Administrative and Fee-for-Service Activities." You can check their budget online. Where are the attorney fees buried?

Can't Paul Levy (or whoever the Rocket Scientist is that devised this plan) think of some more productive manner to spend our money? I would rather pay for parks improvement or some expanded street cleaning than "Paul's lawyers."

Mr Levy, did you poll the participants of the Philly Restaurant Week to see if THEY were confused by the two ads? There’s no confusion. They are different colors and appear in Philly Mag on DIFFERENT MONTHS. The SJ Hot Chefs ad doesn’t appear until AFTER the Philly Restaurant Week is OVER.
YOU don’t have a trademark on the color RED. Only Satan has that ! Are you Satan?
YOU are the only one “confused”, or dangerous, or both.
Wake up Sir, you are shooting yourself in the foot, and at the same time, you're wasting our money & destroying something beautiful. It makes me sick to see people spend money for lawyers on something like this. Stop this before you spend MORE of OUR money on Lawyers.

Something smells here, and it's not good cooking!
God Bless America!

I could understand confusion between the two restaurant weeks if both associations chose the exact same week. It is my understanding that the two events were not held on the same week, so what’s the big deal? Are the South Jersey Hot Chefs cutting into Center City District’s Restaurant Week’s revenues? From my perspective, it looks like the SJ Hotchefs may have raised the bar and the Center City District guys simply don’t like it. Competition is a good thing. Competition allows businesses to continuously strive to improve. Without competition, businesses would settle for mediocrity. Rather than file suit against an association that is trying to showcase the talents and menus of South Jersey’s best chefs, I suggest that the Center City District Association concentrate on building on their own Restaurant Week reputation. There is opportunity for both associations to hold successful Restaurant weeks. Let’s save the litigation for something really important.

Why would an attorney even take this case. Not ethically bound to keep frivolous suits from wasting the court's time and taxpayer money? And how does the one even interfere with the other?

Paul, you have to be kidding me, a lawsuit? Over what? SJ ad looks nicer? SJ Hot Chefs are putting out a great product? That's called competition Paul!! So instead of trying to make your product better you go to court. How lame!! How about getting back in the kitchen and do a better job of cooking and marketing? Because it sure seems the SJ Chefs are doing just that, great meals, great prices and marketing that is making there businesses grow.
GREAT JOB SJ HOT CHEFS!! It is a shame the Philly Chefs have to stoop so low for attention!!

This whole situation is ridiculus. We live in America where competiton is the hallmark of
Capitalism. I guess that only counts when you have the customers. The Center City District seems to be saying that they are the only organization that is able to use the color red on an advertisement. Sour grapes seem to be the motive for such a frivilous lawsuit.
I would love to see a high powered attorney reperesent the SJRA without a fee, just for the principle of the lawsuit.
SJIRA is made up of a group of small independent restaurants offering the public an opportunity to dine and enjoy their food. If the CCD is threatened by this, they should focus their time, attention and money on increasing the quality and availability of goods and services, not on bullying the little guys.
Kathleen

A new definition of "ridiculous" has been penned by Mr. Paul Levy and his group. Do you really think the consumer spending his/her hard-earned money would consider this attack warranted? SJ Hot Chefs have organized their efforts, talents, and passion for their craft into a truly pleasant and enjoyable event. Their cooperation benefits small business and their mission is admirable.

Center City has some wonderful independently owned restaurants and I'm sure some of the members of the Center City group would never want their good name associated with a lawsuit so "ridiculous" and petty.

Paul...sounds like you better get out of the kitchen...its too hot for you.

I just read this article in the paper about the lawsuit!
Wow that is such BS! What a waste of time and taxpayers money!
As a loyal customer and frequent diner of both groups, the ads are clearly distinguishable!

Who are these people that are confused??? Why don't they take a poll, survey or get a petition from customers who need a better distinction of the two! Then,amicably go from there!
A solution, a LAWSUIT?? Not necessary! This has gone too far! IMHO The only RED confusion I see is that SJHOTCHEFS organization is by far the BEST at marketing, promotions,entertaining & charity work! Their events are clearly thought out, sequenced nicely annually and consistently top notch in their offerings! Us diners always look forward to their events as well as cc! SJHOTCHEFS just raised the bar in standards!
Lets keep the peace in the dining community,PLEASE!
Perhaps a charity dinner as a peace offering to settle this not a lawsuit or bridge of wars!

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. The CCD gave the SJ Hot Chefs more free publicity than they could ever hope for.

I'm glad they settled it, though. Both organizations have to get back to their missions - fighting mediocre, mass-produced, chain food in the delaware valley.

I, for one, was insulted that the CCD had to pull the "public is too stupid to tell the difference" defense. What a crock!