Several former chefs of the famous Chatterbox chicken rice and another cook trained by a Chatterbox alumnus have set up shops and are riding on this link to draw business by claiming an affiliation to Chatterbox. However, the emulation of the success of Chatterbox chicken rice by drawing connections with it may result in some legal implications.
Our Bryan Tan said that stall owners who claim association with popular eateries may face lawsuits ranging from misrepresentation to passing off if their claims are untrue. Although it is fair for the stallholders to state that they used to work for a former employer, they should check that their former employment terms does not prohibit this disclosure. He also added that an invention created for one's employer belongs to the employer if it is protectable, such as special formulas and cooking processes that are safeguarded by copyright, trademark and patent law.