Local News
Austin Donut Shop Told to Stop Making UT Longhorn Donuts
Angel Seng has sold “Longhorn Donuts” in her Austin shop called Donut Taco Palace 1 for the past 8 years. These special donuts are in the shape of the “hook ‘um horns” hand sign used by University of Texas fans.
In 2016, Seng received a legal letter from UT asking her to stop using the trademarked sign. “It’s not right. It’s not fair too, I’m a small business and I support every school around here,” Seng told Fox 7.
Attorney Brian Hall (who is not working on the case) gave some insight into why a large university like UT would go to the trouble of sending a cease and desist letter to a small business. Hall told the news that “at the end of the day any trademark owner has this duty to protect and enforce their trademark rights or they risk losing rights in them.”
In the hopes that UT will no longer take interest in her donuts, Seng renamed them “Lavaca” meaning “the cow.” Though anyone who’s a fan of sweet treats knows what the donuts really represent – an irresistibly tasty dessert.
