Food delivery startup DoorDash is being sued by one of the restaurants it buys food from, In-N-Out Burger.
Lawyers for In-N-Out argue that DoorDash is violating In-N-Out's trademark rights with “unlicensed delivery business.”
The lawsuit was filed on November 6 and was first reported yesterday by TMZ.
As you can read in the complaint [PDF], In-N-Out's lawyers claim DoorDash uses an "Imitation Logo" of In-N-Out on the DoorDash site, and say this "is intended to, and has, confused consumers as to Defendant's authority to delivery Plaintiff's food items."
The lawsuit charges DoorDash with trademark infringement, dilution, and unfair competition.
Lawyers for In-N-Out say DoorDash's delivery vehicles aren't compliant with the California Retail Food Code, and In-N-Out would never authorize DoorDash "or any other entity to deliver its food products to consumers without the necessary food handling licenses and food safety procedures in place."
At Eater Blog, In-N-Out explains its belief that consumers would be confused by another company delivering its burgers.
Below, a great CBS News interview with In-N-Out's CEO, who rarely does press. After a series of family tragedies, she took the reins sooner than she'd planned.
