HOUSTON — Whataburger is suing a restaurant group in North Carolina that's using a similar name. In the lawsuit, the Texas-based chain said its trademark was created first -- in 1950.

With the lawsuit, Whataburger is seeking to keep their North Carolina competitors from using the “What-A-Burger #13″ name permanently, as well as damages for their use of the trademark.

Whataburger was founded in Texas in 1950, while What-A-Burger #13 emerged nearly two decades later in 1969. The larger chain announced plans to expand into North Carolina in April 2024 and will ...