Complex sentence: The Hootses and their lawyer thought their state trademark gave them exclusive right the "Burger King" name all over Lincolnland, but by 1967, the Burger King corporation had 50 restaurants in Illinois, and the Hootses felt they needed to take action.
Split into simpler sentences: The Hootses and their lawyer thought their state trademark gave them exclusive right the "Burger King" name all over the state. H0owever, by 1967, the Burger King corporation had 50 restaurants in Illinois, and the Hootses felt they needed to take action.