An alleged breach of a local butter tart trademark has been settled.
In May Wellington North’s tourism, marketing and promotion manager April Marshall launched a “cease and desist” order against Kawarthas Lakes after discovering it had launched a butter tart promotion under the name “The Butter Tart Tour.”
Marshall claimed the similarities with the township’s “Butter Tart Trail” promotional efforts infringed on the local trademark.
Treasurer and acting CAO Mike Givens said the cost to have a lawyer issue a cease and desist order on behalf of Wellington North was $1,139.
The threat was enough to prompt the Kawartha group to change the name of its promotion to Kawartha-Northumberland Butter Tart Tour.
According to an email from Marshall the name change will “add a geographical distinction between us.”
The infringement threat also garnered widespread media coverage across the province.
“It turned out to be a very big story in all of Ontario,” Marshall said. “As a result we have settled with the Kawarthas, in that they will be promoting their tour as the Kawartha-Northumberland Butter Tart Tour.”
Since its launch in 2006, The Butter Tart Trail has won several provincial and national awards, including an Economic Development Council (EDCO) 2007 Award and three Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC) Marketing Canada Awards.
The Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance has also weighed into the controversy with the announcement of an upcoming butter tart tasting.
“On [Aug. 15] we’re turning a sticky situation sweet with an afternoon celebrating Ontario’s signature dessert,” the alliance stated in a News release.
“Come sample some of the best butter tarts in the province, meet their makers and help launch 30 days of sweetness in 2014 by helping to proclaim June to be National Butter Tart Month.”
Butter tart samples from Wellington North and the Kawarthas will be available at the tasting, along with similar treats from other municipalities.
The event will take place in Etobicoke.
“I’m always asked what Ontario’s signature dish is – it’s hard,” said alliance executive director Rebecca LeHeup in a press release.
“Alberta has their beef, the east coast seafood, Quebec has maple syrup – I think our calling card is a sweet one.”
