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ARTICLE · 11 JANUARY 2019

Is It A "Pho Keene" Great Name Or Is It Offensive?

Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC
Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC
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Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC

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A new French-Vietnamese restaurant was forced to remove its signage after concerns were raised about the restaurant's name being offensive.

United StatesMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment

A new French-Vietnamese restaurant was forced to remove its signage after concerns were raised about the restaurant's name being offensive.  The restaurant is named after the Vietnamese soup, "Pho," and the name of the town where the restaurant is based, "Keene."  When the words are combined, people felt that the restaurant's name, "Pho Keene Great," sounded like a profanity.

In response to the concerns, the restaurant ran a poll, asking whether people felt the name was offensive -- and apparently most people felt that it was not.  

Acknowledging that the name is a double entendre, the restaurant said that "we do not have any plans on changing our business name."  The restaurant said it is planning to meet with the Keene City Manager in early Februrary to work something out.  In the meantime, the restaurant is selling branded t-shirts to help finance its battle with the town. 

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www.fkks.com

This post first appeared in Frankfurt Kurnit's Focus on the Data blog (www.focusonthedata.com). It provides general coverage of its subject area. We provide it with the understanding that Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz is not engaged herein in rendering legal advice, and shall not be liable for any damages resulting from any error, inaccuracy, or omission. Our attorneys practice law only in jurisdictions in which they are properly authorized to do so. We do not seek to represent clients in other jurisdictions.

Originally published by the New York Legal Ethics Reporter

www.fkks.com

This alert provides general coverage of its subject area. We provide it with the understanding that Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz is not engaged herein in rendering legal advice, and shall not be liable for any damages resulting from any error, inaccuracy, or omission. Our attorneys practice law only in jurisdictions in which they are properly authorized to do so. We do not seek to represent clients in other jurisdictions.

www.fkks.com

This alert provides general coverage of its subject area. We provide it with the understanding that Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz is not engaged herein in rendering legal advice, and shall not be liable for any damages resulting from any error, inaccuracy, or omission. Our attorneys practice law only in jurisdictions in which they are properly authorized to do so. We do not seek to represent clients in other jurisdictions.

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