Sport Investors League
  • Politics
  • Stocks
  • Investing
  • Business

Sport Investors League

  • Politics
  • Stocks
  • Investing
  • Business
Business

Big Mac battle: McDonald’s loses burger trademark for E.U. in battle with Irish rival

by admin June 7, 2024
June 7, 2024
Big Mac battle: McDonald’s loses burger trademark for E.U. in battle with Irish rival

A top European Union court said Wednesday that McDonald’s has lost its Big Mac trademark in the 27-nation bloc, ruling in favor of Irish fast food rival Supermac’s in a longrunning legal battle.

The EU General Court said in its judgement that the U.S. fast food giant failed to prove that it was genuinely using the Big Mac name over a five-year period for chicken sandwiches, poultry products or restaurants.

The Big Mac is a hamburger made of two beef patties, cheese, lettuce, onions, pickles and Big Mac sauce, according to the company’s website.

The decision is about more than burger names. It opens the door for Galway-based Supermac’s expansion into other EU countries. The dispute erupted when Supermac’s applied to register its company name in the EU as it drew up its expansion plans. McDonald’s objected, saying consumers would be confused because it already trademarked the Big Mac name.

Supermac’s filed a 2017 request with the EU’s Intellectual Property Office to revoke McDonald’s Big Mac trademark registration, saying the U.S. company couldn’t prove that it had used the name for certain categories that aren’t specifically related to the burger over five years. That’s the window of time in Europe that a trademark has to be used before it can be taken away.

A Supermac’s restaurant in Dublin.Niall Carson / PA Images via Getty Images file

After the regulator partially approved Supermac’s request, McDonald’s appealed to the EU court.

“McDonald’s has not proved that the contested mark has been put to genuine use” in connection with chicken sandwiches, food made from poultry products or services associated with operating fast-food, drive-through or take-out restaurants, the court said, according to a press summary of its decision.

Supermac’s portrayed the decision as a David and Goliath-style victory. Managing Director Pat McDonagh accused McDonald’s of “trademark bullying to stifle competition.”

“This is a significant ruling that takes a common-sense approach to the use of trademarks by large multi-nationals. It represents a significant victory for small businesses throughout the world,” McDonagh said in a statement.

The Irish company doesn’t sells a sandwich called the Big Mac but does have one called the Mighty Mac with the same ingredients.

McDonald’s was unfazed by the ruling, which can be appealed to the European Court of Justice, the bloc’s highest court, but only on points of law.

“The decision by the EU General Court does not affect our right to use the ‘BIG MAC’ trademark,” the company said in a press statement. “Our iconic Big Mac is loved by customers all across Europe, and we’re excited to continue to proudly serve local communities, as we have done for decades.”

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
Nvidia passes Apple in market cap as second-most valuable public U.S. company
next post
GM CEO says commitment to all-electric fleet remains firm despite industry-wide sales slowdown

Related Posts

USPS resumes shipments from China in abrupt about-face

February 6, 2025

McDonald’s exec says average menu item costs 40%...

May 31, 2024

Are consumers pulling back on spending? It depends...

May 21, 2024

There’s been a ‘meaningful shift’ in CEO confidence...

January 16, 2025

Wall Street expects Trump presidency will unlock deal-making

November 9, 2024

‘Moana 2’-led Thanksgiving box office could be best...

November 28, 2024

Elon Musk’s Starlink brings internet — and politics...

October 4, 2024

Uber delivery chief Gore-Coty is leaving after almost...

June 4, 2025

OpenAI in talks to pay about $3 billion...

April 17, 2025

NFL open to private equity team ownership of...

July 12, 2024

    Get free access to all of the retirement secrets and income strategies from our experts! or Join The Exclusive Subscription Today And Get the Premium Articles Acess for Free


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent

    • Find Highest Probability Counter-Trend Setups

      June 26, 2025
    • Bernie Moreno wants Senate to call for Nobel Peace Prize to go to Trump

      June 26, 2025
    • Iran, Israel and US agree that Islamic Republic nuclear sites were ‘badly damaged’ despite leaked intel report

      June 26, 2025
    • UN’s atomic agency’s Iran policy gets mixed reviews from experts after US-Israel ‘obliterate’ nuclear sites

      June 26, 2025
    • Democratic congressman hurls profanity-laced message at Stephen Miller

      June 26, 2025

    Categories

    • Business (997)
    • Investing (2,471)
    • Politics (3,067)
    • Stocks (1,095)
    • About us
    • Contact us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: sportinvestorsleague.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2025 sportinvestorsleague.com | All Rights Reserved