IHOP Prays for Relief from Houses of Prayer

Quick – what's the difference between a prayer and a pancake?

Most of us can probably answer that question without too much cogitation but the International House of Pancakes (IHOP) says in a lawsuit that its trademark is being threatened by another IHOP, the International House of Prayer.

The suit also alleges that the International House of Prayer is opening a university, known around the Kansas City area as IHOPU, which it alleges threatens the continued existence of its $1 billion pancake paradise.

The pancake maker says it has made millions of pancakes at its 1,500 restaurants since it won the trademark in 1973. Of course, folks were praying long before then, perhaps in some cases prior to digging into a short stack.

But be that as it may, the suit names several churches and ministries in Missouri that use the International House of Prayer name and prays for relief before the almighty U.S. District Court in Kansas City.