Bob Marley’s estate sues Louisiana chicken chain Raising Cane’s over 'One Love' phrase

Dec. 11 (UPI) -- The estate for deceased reggae musician Bob Marley is suing Louisiana chicken chain Raising Cane's over the use of its trademark phrase, “One Love.”

The suit was filed in federal court in Massachusetts on Friday by a Bahamas-based company, 56 Hope Road Music, which is run by Marley’s children and widow, Rita. Marley’s “One Love” was named song of the millennium by the BBC in 1999.

Raising Cane's CEO Todd Graves defended the chain’s use of the phrase and implied that this isn’t the first time that the Marleys have shown no love for the franchise’s adoption of one love.

"Raising Cane's denies the Marley's allegations and will continue to defend our rights as we have done with the Marleys in related proceedings," Graves said in a statement. "Raising Cane's looks forward to proving our position in court, putting this matter behind us and continuing to pursue our ONE LOVE -- serving our communities our quality chicken finger meals."

According to the suit, Raising Cane's "maliciously interfered" with the Marley company's business relationships and its attempt to steal the phrase were "willful and deliberate." Hope Road says that using “Cane’s One Love” on menus is “confusingly similar” to the company’s “Marley One Love” trademark.

Cane's offered to settle with the Marleys in the past, but the offer was rejected.

Marley died in 1981 from cancer when he was only 36.

[The Times-Picayune] [Scribd]