After community backlash, celeb chef David Chang will no longer enforce 'chili crunch' trademark

The reversal comes after days of criticism, as some said his company, Momofuku, had attempted to bully business owners from selling their own version of the peppery potion with Chinese roots.

"The past week, we have heard the feedback from our community and now understand that the term 'chili crunch' carries broader meaning for many," a Momofuku spokesperson told The Washington Post late Friday.

But his brand recently expanded into selling packaged goods — many of them slightly upscale takes on Asian pantry classics, like instant noodles and chili crunch.

"When I read through it, I think I felt a sense of betrayal, to be honest," Tew, who is based in New York, told Day 6's Brent Bambury in an interview taped before Momofuku announced the backtrack.

Small glass containers of chili crisp can often be found in Chinese noodle shops, next to other common condiments like soy sauce and rice vinegar.

Ken Clark, an intellectual property lawyer with Toronto-based law firm Aird and Berlis, said the company may want to hold onto it to prevent another business claiming it for its own down the line.