 As the company expanded , it was subject to several legal issues regarding trademarks . Because of its use as a case study in American law schools , one of the most prominent incidents of infringement in the United States occurred with the similarly named Burger King located in Mattoon , Illinois . Eugene and Elizabeth Hoots owned an ice cream shop in the city of Mattoon ; due to the success of the store , in 1957 they expanded it with an additional shop in a former garage next to the original operation . Keeping with theme related to the name of the ice cream shop , Frigid Queen , they named their burger stand Burger King and registered their trademark with the state of Illinois in 1959 . In 1962 The Hootses , with knowledge of the Federal trademark held by Burger King Corporation , added a second location in Charleston , Illinois . 
