Pittsburgh woman sues over peace-sign pretzels

Pittsburgh woman sues over peace-sign pretzels

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A Pittsburgh woman who claims to own the exclusive right to produce pretzels shaped like peace signs is suing two food companies for patent infringement.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Leslie Friend bought the patent from an Oregon man, who obtained it 13 years ago, in hopes of building her own pretzel business.

But she learned that Keystone Pretzels of Lititz, makes peace-sign pretzels and that Laurel Hill Foods, of Attleboro, Mass. sells them, so she sued both companies in federal court on Wednesday.

Keystone officials didn’t immediately return a call, and Laurel Hill referred calls to Chex Finer Foods Inc., which also didn’t immediately comment.

Friend’s attorney, Daniel Brean, tells the newspaper that “attempts were made to amicably resolve this matter” — but since no peace has been reached, she decided to sue.