KFC is contending with anemic sales. Yum Brands told investors on an earning call last week that U.S. same-store sales declined for a third consecutive quarter, most recently down 5%. "Limited-time offers underperformed expectations due to a more intense ...

The suit comes soon after KFC’s parent company Yum Brands reported an earnings miss on Nov. 5, noting that same-store sales at KFC were down 4% year over year globally and fell 5% in the U.S. Popeyes overtook KFC as the nation’s second largest chicken ...

Church's declined to comment, citing active litigation. The lawsuit comes as KFC faces sluggish sales. Parent company Yum! Brands said on its earnings call last week that U.S. same-store sales fell 5%, its third-straight quarter of declines. Yum!

KFC claims Church’s use of the marketing phrase will deceive customers into thinking they are buying items from KFC.

KFC claims that Church's use of the phrase "original recipe" in its own advertisements "is likely to create confusion in the marketplace.

KFC has filed a lawsuit against Church's Texas Chicken for allegedly violating its trademark rights by using the term "original recipe" in its advertising.

KFC’s “Original Recipe” trademark, which it says is a secret blend of 11 herbs and spices, has long been part of the company’s branding. The blend is closely guarded, and the company calls it one of the most “iconic trade secrets in the food industry.” It first trademarked the phrase in 1984.