On Tuesday, Supermac’s, a fast-food chain in Ireland won a landmark legal battle against McDonald’s over the use of trademarks. Supermac’s Managing Director, Pat McDonagh earned his nickname Supermac in the 1960s due to his performances in Gaelic football.
Supermac’s persuaded the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to cancel McDonald’s use of the “Big Mac” trademark.
The EUIPO, which is based in Alicante, Spain, ruled that McDonald’s had not proven genuine use of Big Mac, which it trademarked in 1996, as a burger or restaurant name.
The trademark had prevented Supermac’s ambition of expanding outside of Ireland because McDonald’s had argued that similarity between Big Mac and Supermac would confuse customers.
The ruling prevents bigger companies from hoarding trademarks with no intention of using them.
McDonald’s have yet to state whether they intend to appeal.
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