Intellectual Property Law

It seems as though a Carl's Jr. online promotion for a free $2.75 "Famous Star" hamburger coupon went a little too viral.

The Carpenteria-based chain promptly stopped honoring the coupons for their franchise burger after what seemed like a harmless online promotion was supersized by the net.

During a promotion at a recent Los Angeles Lakers-New Orleans Hornets game at the Staples Center in L.A., the 276 winning contestants were texted a passcode and a 48-hour-only URL on the Lakers' website, showing where they could download their free red meat.

A day later, the URL and passcode spread faster than a Paris Hilton homemade porno. Hundreds of bargain-hunting websites posted the URL and passcode -- prompting the hamburger outlet to discontinue honoring them amid fears of a run on their burgers.

"We're wanting things to go viral, just not free offers," said Beth Mansfield, a Carl's Jr. spokeswoman. She said that was the first, and likely the last, time the chain would give out free burgers that way.

"Obviously, somebody who was at the game shared it with a friend. Eventually, it was everywhere," Mansfield said in a telephone interview.

The promotion was immediately halted after 50 burgers were redeemed, Mansfield said. She said the company would honor coupons by those who could prove they were at the  game.

Mansfield said it was not immediately known how many coupon holders have been turned away.

A makeshift sign taped Tuesday to a window at a Carl's Jr. restaurant in Carmichael, California, -- hundreds of miles away from the Staples Center -- claimed Carl's Jr. was the victim of a hack.

Angie Amar, a Carl's Jr. spokeswoman, called the affair a "breach."

"Coupons were seized from our website and they were distributed illegally. Due to the breach, the restaurants are not required to accept these coupons," Amar said in a telephone interview.

Photo: Adrian Lamo

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