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IRISH FAST FOOD chain Supermac’s has won a landmark ruling against McDonald’s to cancel the ownership of the ‘Mc’ trademark in the EU.
The judgment from the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) revoked McDonald’s ‘Mc’ trademark on all foods except chicken nuggets and sandwiches.
This decision was made on 31 July.
The use of this prefix now has to go through a proof of use test, as requested by Supermac’s. The EUIPO is the agency through which trade marks and designs are registered in the European Union.
Managing Director of Supermac’s Ireland Pat McDonagh welcomed the ruling and said the company is tired of “trademark bullying”.
“McDonald’s tried to argue that because they had some products that started with Mc that the term Mc was so synonymous with them that they had the right to own and trademark,” McDonagh said in a statement.
“We are delighted that the EUIPO found in our favour and that we can now say that we have rid Europe of the McDonald’s self-styled monopoly of the term Mc.”
A McDonald’s spokesperson said the company considers its ‘Mc’ products to be “among its most valuable assets” due to customer recognition.
“This decision does not impact McDonald’s ability to use its Mc-prefixed trademarks or other trademarks throughout Europe and the world, and McDonald’s will continue to enforce its rights,” the spokesperson said.
The EUIPO ruled in January that McDonald’s had not proven genuine use of its Bic Mac trademark as a burger or as a restaurant. They cancelled the use of this trademark in Europe.
This decision was appealed by McDonald’s in March.
Supermac’s had originally taken the case against McDonald’s after it was blocked from registering its name as a trademark in European countries outside of Ireland due to an objection by McDonald’s.
“This latest decision by the EUIPO shows that just because McDonald’s has deep pockets and we are relatively small , it doesn’t mean we weren’t going to fight our corner,” McDonagh said.
We had enough of this trademark bullying and thankfully a mechanism existed whereby McDonald’s will now have to cancel trademarks that they were warehousing as ammunition in a future trade war.
The businessman added that this judgment was a “vindication of small businesses everywhere”.
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One of the greatest opportunistic strokes of the last decade by Alan Kelly. Hopping on the McCabe bandwagon in the final weeks when it looked cut and dried, 2 years after Clare Daly & others raised the issue, when he himself was in government and did nothing. A slew of photo opportunities and TV appearances followed for the Knight in Shining Armour, the biggest ego in Irish politics.
@Justin Barrett: at least he challenges politicians and has fought a lot of battles on this. I admire him
@Chris Finn: Is that you Alan?
@Chris Finn: The only one who admires Alan Kelly is Alan Kelly. Hi Alan?
@Chris Finn: seek help
@Chris Finn: “power is a drug” Kelly? Narcissistic megalomaniac
@Chris Finn: If you admire him I’d say you need to go somewhere and have a good chat with yourself.
@Misanthrope: it is incredulous that somebody that loves himself so much and everything is all about him that people wasted their vote on him thinking that he would represent them instead of just himself. Fools.
@Chris Finn: he had no problem imposing an unjust property tax on us she minister!
@Liam O Connor: when he was minister!
@David Dickson:
You are a good judge DD. Spot on.
I know the man.
@Chris Finn: we have a groupie on our hands lol
This guy just loves publicity!
@iohanx: would you prefer this guy wasn’t challenging politicians and keeping them honest
@Chris Finn: I’d prefer a different guy.
@Arnold Alley: I know, I still have three shirts and a blouse to do.
@Chris Finn: Wow, honesty and Alan Kelly in the same sentence. That’s a first.
Imagine the boredom of the poor fecker that has to endure Alan Kelly’s conversations.
The labour party dont like being insignificant in politics . they’re jumping on any bandwagon for publicity.how can journalists get it so wrong,he did nothing for whistleblowers when in government, the labour party backed the commissioner 100% so they could remain in power.
This guy will stop at nothing to keep his name in the spotlight. The only thing this man should be remembered for is the absolute shambles that was Irish Water and water charges.
@Tommy Roche: he doesn’t bother even pretending he gives a sh¡+€ about homeless or poverty because there’s no decent photo opportunities or media spotlight in it but conspiracy &phone tapping is sure to get him on the front pages.. he’s a cu..
@Tommy Roche: remember he said it would be his “legacy”? Well that is it, that is all I canremember him doing, how did that go for him?
Funny how he’s criticising the legislation. Who makes our laws? Did he spend his entire time as a Minister on the phone doing deals?
@Tommy Roche: Very true. And more besides. what is he so afraid of and who is giving him information?
Arrogant bàstard. I’d love to see voted out.
O God, this buffoon will doing anything to raise his profile.
@Joseph Dempsey: eh he exposes politicians and keeps them honest. You have just won dumbest comment of the year
@Chris Finn: I’m with Joseph on this one
@Chris Finn: Agree. I was never a fan of his but he is doing good work on the PAC committee.
@Chris Finn: would this be the other politicians who have been raising the very issues this clown to take notice of only recently, I recall he also had plenty of opportunities to raise issues when he was in government, a little late in the day for crocodile tears I’m afraid. Kelly is an opportunist , nothing more, nothing less apart from also being an irrational loud mouth
@Chris Finn: you have to see that he is a bandwagon jumper
Does it not cross his mind that if the gardai have tapped his phone it indicates that they think he’s involved in criminal activity, and that this would reflect poorly upon him?
@Lurfic: Ridiculous comment. Obviously he has good reasons to believe that he is being monitored for political reasons. He clearly said that this is something to be aware of from people who advise him on the matters.
@Lurfic: so true
I find Kelly to be insufferably obnoxious. However, I get the impression he has a sniff of something here. His public perception is almost as important to him as his self perception. As one poster above said, he jumped on the McCabe bandwagon in the last two weeks of the shitshow that ended Fitzgerald as minister, once all the long hard work had been done. I get the same feeling here. Seems like he’s jumping out in front of something so he can be first to say he brought it up.
Who in their right mind would want to know what Labour are doing .
I have no time for his politics .. however Kelly’s work on the PAC has been great … his questioning was critical in the exposure of the dept of justice and Garda collusion to smear McCabe … he has been very bullish in not taking vague answers from the HSE in relation to the whistleblower and grace case.
But unfortunately due to his Irish water calamities he will not get the credit he deserves on these matters
@Gggordon: I agree with this. I think he’s been excellent in opposition. I’d never want him anywhere near government again though.
@Conor: You sum up Kelly and liebour perfectly Conor, great in opposition, liars and turncoats in power.
What does he think the Gardai are after….The mole who leaked government documents to him….Is that not their job under official secrets act hunting moles….
There may have been a leak, Alan.
He’ll do anything to get his name up in lights….this is not show business Alan.
The Justice department have better things to do – stop wasting their time – and stop costing us money, in other words…get lost!
Between tapping and leaking I think he should call a plumber
Next weeks headline…..
“Alan Kelly seen out on a date with Amanda Brunker”
@Larry Fitzwell: Following weeks headline….
“Amanda Brunker reveals why she is emigrating”
@Tommy Roche: Week after interview with Hello magazine……
“Amanda Brunker on how the Maurice McCabe scandal has affected her, and how she was once a whistle blower too”
What do he r any of the other Labour mouth pieces Di when in Government Nothing. They should have been wired out at last election
I don`t doubt the capacity of AGS for dirty tricks, that has been well proven over the years. But AK is just an insufferable attention seeker.
Regina doherty wil be kicking herself she didnt think of this! Makes a change from the old death threat yarn!
I once walked past Alan Kelly while he was talking a phone call in the street. Should I be expecting a visit from the guards?
Have we an honest politician in this country at all, anyone? Anyone?
@Horace: William Wallace, Wexford Braveheart. Connoisseur of everything Italian,…. or maybe not, forgot to pay his taxes.
What a clown
The only tapping he is concerned with is water taps!!!
Of course Alan Kelly’s phone calls are being monitored. I’m not sure, though, why he is making such a fuss over it. It’s just reality.
Bomb Squad called in, death threats, phone tapped. Who would be a TD? Having to continually invent b/s like this. Hard work!
If he has been tipped off by a Garda mole and it turns out his phone was tapped this would trigger an election.
The opposition parties in the Dail are making the Government look good at this stage. Bunch of attention seeking clowns.
I hope it’s not a frivolous accusation ,if their is any truth in this allegation then it doesn’t bode well for the high ethos and rigorous accountability the organs of the State now uphold.
Who uses landlines anymore?
He is slowly becoming the biggest pain in the arse in the country.
It has..by his Ego
This Guy and his Colleagues should be Shot for Treason
This poor man could get counselling and I’m sure some medication for his unfortunate condition..
Has to be the biggest Dick head in Irish politics
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