A popular San Diego Comic-Con cosplay restaurant pop-up themed after the ridiculousGrand Theft Autofast food chain Cluckin' Bell has received a cease and desist order from Take-Two. After the Cluckin' Bell pop-up restaurant was successful during SDCC 2022, it was announced it’d be returning for SDCC 2023 – along with a new Burger Shot event. Take-Two decided the pop-ups were infringing on itsGrand Theft Autoproperty, however, and has quietly made sure they won’t be moving forward.During SDCC 2022, a surprising partnership between Smokin J’s BBQ and fashion brand boyworldwide led to aGrand Theft Auto-inspired pop-up restaurant named Cluckin Bell. The fast food chain first appeared inGrand Theft Auto: San Andreas, a parody of Taco Bell and KFC mixed with profanity.Cluckin' Bell is also inGrand Theft Auto 5, as well as several other games in the franchise. The Cluckin Bell at SDCC pulled directly from theGrand Theft Autofranchise, with “Taste the ****” t-shirts, chicken masks, profanity-laced menu items, and even the in-game logo. It proved to be a great success, and plans have since been announced for Cluckin Bell’s return at SDCC 2023.RELATED:Huge New Xbox Game Pass Addition Was Perfectly TimedThe announcement of Cluckin Bell’s return appears to have drawn the attention of Take-Two, unfortunately. Rockstar Intel confirmed with Smokin J’s BBQ that Take-Two delivered a cease-and-desist order to the restaurant. In a statement from Smokin J’s BBQ, the restaurant confirmed that Take-Two’s lawyers delivered the cease and desist.
Smokin J’s BBQ has confirmed that it plans to comply with theTake-Two cease and desist. Specifics include the cancelation of the previously announced Burger Shot event at SDCC 2023, and a reworking of the Cluckin Bell pop-up shop. Cluckin' Bell will no longer be in service, but a different-yet-similar shop named Don’t Cluckin' Tell will be taking its place. The change will assumedly allow Smokin J’s BBQ to remove all offending copyrighted material from the shop while still allowing the store to run.
While Take-Two hasn’t issued any official statements on the subject, it’s easy to see where it may have had a problem with what was going on. Cluckin' Bell and Burger Shot are the intellectual property ofTake-Two and Rockstar. A parody pop-up restaurant using Take-Two’s IP may have avoided too much attention in 2022, but doing the event again with a big announcement seems to have been a step too far.
Fans ofGrand Theft Autocould understandably be disappointed with the decision. It could be seen as just a fun pop-up tying into the nerdery of SDCC, after all. There are larger concerns, however. The pop-up not only took advantage ofTake-Two’s popular IPwithout any official licensing or revenue sharing, but there’s also the possibility of a health or safety issue being unfairly associated with Take-Two, too. Fans can always get their Cluckin' Chicken officially by playingGrand Theft Auto.
