Comments on: Boulud vs. Brown in DB Smackdown http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/06/01/war-of-the-dbs/ Rego Park, Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Briarwood Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:38:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Queens Central » CB to DB: Hands off our trademark http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/06/01/war-of-the-dbs/#comment-822 Queens Central » CB to DB: Hands off our trademark Wed, 18 Jul 2007 04:25:28 +0000 http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/06/01/war-of-the-dbs/#comment-822 [...] story so far: Absentee superchef Daniel Boulud threatens Forest Hills’ Danny Brown with a lawsuit for using their mutual initials in the signage of his restaurant, then just a month later [...] […] story so far: Absentee superchef Daniel Boulud threatens Forest Hills’ Danny Brown with a lawsuit for using their mutual initials in the signage of his restaurant, then just a month later […]

]]> By: Corgi http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/06/01/war-of-the-dbs/#comment-346 Corgi Wed, 06 Jun 2007 03:02:00 +0000 http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/06/01/war-of-the-dbs/#comment-346 The truth is that I'm sure that Daniel Boulud is as thoroughly unenthused about this whole thing as Danny Brown is. The problem is that once upon a time, Daniel Boulud spent good money to hire an attorney to register his trademark for him. Now, if he fails to defend that trademark, he will effectively be throwing away his rights. If you allow third-parties to infringe upon your trademark, it weakens your rights. Daniel Boulud is only doing this because his attorney is probably telling him that if he doesn't do something about db Wine Bar and Bistro, he can kiss his rights goodbye. Daniel Boulud may only have the one db Bistro Moderne right now, but he may be planning to start a whole chain of db Bistro Modernes. He might start a line of db brand merchandise sold out of swanky food shops everywhere, who knows? Danny Brown will be unhappy. He will have to change his signage, business cards, menus, stationary, whatever. Daniel Boulud will also be unhappy. He has to pay his expensive trademark attorney to see that this thing is handled correctly. The only one doing well here, is the trademark attorney, but before we all cut loose with the "@!$#ing attorney!" routines, let's just remember that he's just doing his job, protecting his client's rights under our system of law. The truth is that I’m sure that Daniel Boulud is as thoroughly unenthused about this whole thing as Danny Brown is. The problem is that once upon a time, Daniel Boulud spent good money to hire an attorney to register his trademark for him. Now, if he fails to defend that trademark, he will effectively be throwing away his rights. If you allow third-parties to infringe upon your trademark, it weakens your rights. Daniel Boulud is only doing this because his attorney is probably telling him that if he doesn’t do something about db Wine Bar and Bistro, he can kiss his rights goodbye. Daniel Boulud may only have the one db Bistro Moderne right now, but he may be planning to start a whole chain of db Bistro Modernes. He might start a line of db brand merchandise sold out of swanky food shops everywhere, who knows?

Danny Brown will be unhappy. He will have to change his signage, business cards, menus, stationary, whatever. Daniel Boulud will also be unhappy. He has to pay his expensive trademark attorney to see that this thing is handled correctly. The only one doing well here, is the trademark attorney, but before we all cut loose with the “@!$#ing attorney!” routines, let’s just remember that he’s just doing his job, protecting his client’s rights under our system of law.

]]> By: LarryB http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/06/01/war-of-the-dbs/#comment-332 LarryB Mon, 04 Jun 2007 15:40:49 +0000 http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/06/01/war-of-the-dbs/#comment-332 Was there for a pretty early dinner this past Saturday at around 7pm for my first visit to db and they were turning away couples left and right that didn't have a reservation (I called 15 minutes before I headed over and had no problem). You can tell there are already a good number of regulars as the hostess was welcoming familiar faces, but looked sincerely apologetic when sending people off. She did seat one couple and said up front that they will need that table in one hour, which was nice enough so they knew they were going to get the rush job My wife and I both enjoyed our meals and there's nothing I can say that hasn't already been mentioned...overall a very positive experience. I just wonder what the 8-10pm crowd looks like as we seem to have been at the low end of the age range at that time. Not the "hip, young" crowd I was expecting, although I'm not really much of a "scene" person so I didn't care either way. On the drive back, I stopped at my nemesis, Martha, to see what the black and white cookie situation was like. If anyone's been reading my other posts, you can guess where that one went. Was there for a pretty early dinner this past Saturday at around 7pm for my first visit to db and they were turning away couples left and right that didn’t have a reservation (I called 15 minutes before I headed over and had no problem). You can tell there are already a good number of regulars as the hostess was welcoming familiar faces, but looked sincerely apologetic when sending people off. She did seat one couple and said up front that they will need that table in one hour, which was nice enough so they knew they were going to get the rush job

My wife and I both enjoyed our meals and there’s nothing I can say that hasn’t already been mentioned…overall a very positive experience. I just wonder what the 8-10pm crowd looks like as we seem to have been at the low end of the age range at that time. Not the “hip, young” crowd I was expecting, although I’m not really much of a “scene” person so I didn’t care either way.

On the drive back, I stopped at my nemesis, Martha, to see what the black and white cookie situation was like. If anyone’s been reading my other posts, you can guess where that one went.

]]> By: Dudely http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/06/01/war-of-the-dbs/#comment-324 Dudely Mon, 04 Jun 2007 01:11:18 +0000 http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/06/01/war-of-the-dbs/#comment-324 When I first saw the FH db, I actually wondered -- "hmm, can this be a Daniel Boulud joint". I quickly reasoned and realized Boulud wouldn't open a place out here but the thought did cross my mind. Danny Brown clearly is making a play on the lower case initials in his name, ala Boulud. I think this case has some legs to it. When I first saw the FH db, I actually wondered — “hmm, can this be a Daniel Boulud joint”. I quickly reasoned and realized Boulud wouldn’t open a place out here but the thought did cross my mind. Danny Brown clearly is making a play on the lower case initials in his name, ala Boulud. I think this case has some legs to it.

]]> By: Jon Parker http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/06/01/war-of-the-dbs/#comment-312 Jon Parker Fri, 01 Jun 2007 23:40:17 +0000 http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/06/01/war-of-the-dbs/#comment-312 Regardless of how similar they are (they aren't) it's common enough to have the d and b next to each other that a bar in the West Village has it too. The primary issue is whether there is brand confusion. And there is not. No one goes to DB thinking it's a Boulud wing. And frankly, even if they did, the food's good enough that they would not think less fovorably of the Boulud brand. Finally, there is no competition. No one goes to Danny Brown INSTEAD OF a Boulud restaurant. No one chooses between the two. Boulud loses no money, suffers no brand diminishment, there is no confusion. All this will do is, as you say, increase awareness for the restaurants and the area. And that's fine with me. Regardless of how similar they are (they aren’t) it’s common enough to have the d and b next to each other that a bar in the West Village has it too. The primary issue is whether there is brand confusion. And there is not. No one goes to DB thinking it’s a Boulud wing. And frankly, even if they did, the food’s good enough that they would not think less fovorably of the Boulud brand. Finally, there is no competition. No one goes to Danny Brown INSTEAD OF a Boulud restaurant. No one chooses between the two. Boulud loses no money, suffers no brand diminishment, there is no confusion. All this will do is, as you say, increase awareness for the restaurants and the area. And that’s fine with me.

]]> By: Foresthills72 http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/06/01/war-of-the-dbs/#comment-309 Foresthills72 Fri, 01 Jun 2007 20:27:23 +0000 http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/06/01/war-of-the-dbs/#comment-309 Give me a break. If Danny wanted to steal from Boulud, he would have called it 'db's Modern Bistro'. He wasn't trying to fool anyone. It's not like he called it Kennedy Fried Chicken. He used his own initials. This is so silly. Give me a break. If Danny wanted to steal from Boulud, he would have called it ‘db’s Modern Bistro’. He wasn’t trying to fool anyone. It’s not like he called it Kennedy Fried Chicken. He used his own initials. This is so silly.

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