Gov. Declares Chick-fil-A Defeat 'A Win for Vermont'

When in 2011 Chick-fil-A sued Bo Muller-Moore, a folk artist from Vermont, for using a slogan similar to their famous "eat mor chikin," no one thought he would beat the national chain. Though Muller-Moore had been using his "Eat More Kale" phrase on t-shirts and bumper stickers since 2000, when he tried to trademark the phrase — certainly as the popularity of kale began to rise — Chick-fil-A stepped up with a cease-and-desist letter. Today, the AP reports that Muller-Moore successfully won his right to use the vegan-friendly phrase.

Though his original trademark application was blocked, a judge has overturned that decision. Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin released a statement: "The message is out: Don't mess with Vermont. And don't mess with Bo. This isn't just a win for the little guy who stands up to a corporate bully; it's a win for our state. In Vermont, we care about what's in our food, who grows it, and where it comes from."

Atlanta-based Chik-fil-A played nice after the decision was announced, saying, "Cows love kale, too."

Muller-Moore plans to continue to emblazon t-shirts with the phrase, "Eat More Kale" as well as the more tongue-in-cheek, "Kale Isn't Chicken."