Subway Sues Quiznos Over Ad Contest

Subway is suing Quiznos after the sub-maker invited fans to drum up ads for an online contest, the New York Times reports. Two years ago, Quiznos offered $10,000 to the fan whose ad best compared Quiznos subs to Subway's "with Quiznos being superior." Subway fumed after seeing its sandwiches kicked, mocked, and destroyed on a website that has since been taken down.

Quiznos denies blame for the plugs: “We’re just facilitating consumers who go out and create their own expression,” said a company attorney. But a legal expert notes that Quiznos "provoked" the ads and made consumers "their agents." At issue is who takes the rap for user-generated content in such contests, which other companies have already run. The competitions may be torpedoed if a Connecticut court sides with Subway next year. (More Subway stories.)