Walking Dead Co-Creator Opposes Themed Restaurant Proposed for Princeton

Princeton, NJ -- A co-creator of ”The Walking Dead” franchise is suing four people who intend to open a Walking Dead-themed restaurant in the Princeton area, and who have a history of copyright infringement.

Robert Kirkman filed a request for a summary judgement against Phillip Theodorou, Steven Theodorou and Anna Theodorou, all of Ewing, and Mohamed Elkady, of Southampton, in Newark federal court last week.

Kirkman, who created the comic book series along with Tommy Moore and Charlie Adlard, claims the defendants have filed 11 separate trademark violations over the last two years to register The Walking Dead trademark under false pretenses.

He alleges they have taken “concrete steps” to use the trademark in commerce by raising money and preparing to open a restaurant in New Jersey under the trademark.

These steps include alleged attempts to register The Walking Dead trademark for clothing items, hundreds of food and beverage items, cups, mugs, drinking glasses, lipstick and other various cosmetic products, cigars, ashtrays and other tobacco-related products, candles, shopping bags, carpets and shirts.

They’ve also filed for a trademark in connection with “Restaurant services and themed restaurant services, namely, providing of food and beverages for consumption on and off the premises.”

The restaurant would be in Princeton, the Princeton area, or along Route 206.

In the past, the defendants have been accused of violating trademarks owned by hip hop group the Beastie Boys, for their song “No Sleep Till Brooklyn”; Donald Trump for his campaign slogan “Make America Great Again”; United Trademark Holdings for “Zombie Cinderella”; and the Brooklyn Islanders of the NHL.

Moore and Adlard are not plaintiffs in the suit, nor is Frank Darabont, who adapted the comic book series into the popular TV show that airs on AMC.

The sixth season of the series concluded on Sunday, with the seventh season slated for an October debut.

See here for the full court filing.