Bubba Logo Dispute: Ohio Company vs. West Sacramento Vendor

West Sacramento Food Vendor Faces Legal Challenge Over Logo

A legal dispute has arisen between an Ohio company, Glass Ireland, and a West Sacramento food vendor, Thick Vatos and Tacos. The conflict involves a character known as “Bubba.” This character is a bearded man wearing a trucker cap and presented in a reclined, relaxed pose.

Glass and Ireland claim they hold copyright over “Bubba,” stating they created him based on a hired model. They have published a FAQ on their website where they clarify that “Bubba” cannot be freely used, even if he appears in clip art collections.

Thick Vatos and Tacos allegedly altered “Bubba” for their own logo. Glass and Ireland refer to this version as the “infringing Bubba.” The Ohio company asserts that Thick Vatos and Tacos applied for a trademark for their modified logo but later abandoned their application. Despite this, Thick Vatos and Tacos has continued to sell merchandise—such as hats, hoodies, and stickers—featuring their version of “Bubba.”

Glass and Ireland are now pursuing legal action. They seek an injunction to halt the sale of the merchandise and request a portion of the profits generated from it, claiming it infringes on their copyrighted character.

The outcome of this dispute may impact how similar logos are used by food vendors and other businesses in the future.