Taco John's trademarked 'Taco Tuesday' in 1989. Now Taco Bell is fighting it

A sign hangs at a Taco Bell on May 23, 2014, in Mount Lebanon, Pa. Declaring a mission to liberate "Taco Tuesday" for all, Taco Bell asked U.S. regulators Tuesday, May 16, 2023, to force Wyoming-based Taco John's to abandon its longstanding claim to the trademark. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)

Gene J. Puskar / Gene J. Puskar

It’s a battle between taco chain restaurants.

Taco John’s, which has about 400 locations in 23 states, trademarked “Taco Tuesday” back in 1989.

Now, Taco Bell argues it should be able to get in on using the popular phrase – with no legal ramifications. It filed a petition with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday asking for the trademark to be reversed.