KFC sues Chinese companies for claiming its chickens have six wings, eight legs
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Kentucky Fried Chicken has been the subject of a smear campaign on social media in China, where companies representing KFC's rivals have posted rumors that the global fast food chain uses genetically engineered chickens with six wings and eight legs, among other claims. Now KFC is fighting back:
KFC is demanding 1.5 million yuan ($242,000) and an apology from each of three companies that operated accounts on the popular mobile phone app WeChat. It is also seeking an immediate stop to their infringements. [New York Daily News]
The Chinese Communist Party has attempted to crack down on the social media rumor mill in the past, though critics say the regime has used the initiative to muffle dissent.
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Ryu Spaeth is deputy editor at TheWeek.com. Follow him on Twitter.