Opinion ID: 692778
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Deskinning

Text: 11 The allegedly proprietary component of Hutchison's deskinning process is the technique for doing it manually, so that you didn't need to use any machinery, which could still be done at a rate of at least two chickens per minute. The technique consists of slipping a hand under the skin of the chicken and pulling the skin off, allegedly in a manner that achieves superior speed. 4 12 We find that the deskinning technique is readily ascertainable. Other than the claim of speed, Hutchison's description of the process contains no details that differentiate his technique from what anyone else might do when faced with a chicken in need of flaying. Hutchison asserts that speed made his process economical, but he has presented no evidence that the speed he achieved was anything unusual in the industry. 13 Furthermore, there is no evidence that KFC actually used Hutchison's method to deskin its chickens. According to KFC's unrebutted affidavits, when KFC introduced its skinless product in 1991, it deskinned chickens by fitting them with a teflon cone, using an air hose to blow the skin away from the chicken, and pulling the skin off by hand. 5 Therefore, even if the deskinning process were proprietary to Hutchison, summary judgment would be warranted because there is no evidence that KFC misappropriated it.