McDonald’s Loses Big Mac Trademark Over Chicken in Europe

 Certainly! Here’s a detailed summary of the recent legal news regarding McDonald’s and the “Big Mac” trademark in Europe:

The European Union General Court ruled that McDonald’s no longer has the exclusive right to use the term “Big Mac” for poultry products. This decision came after McDonald’s had not used the term for chicken sandwiches for five consecutive years. The ruling is a partial win for Irish rival Supermac’s, which had challenged McDonald’s use of the name “Big Mac.”

Here are the key points:

• Background: In 1996, McDonald’s registered the name “Big Mac” as a trademark for meat and poultry products and services rendered at restaurants.

• Supermac’s Challenge: In 2017, Supermac’s attempted to revoke McDonald’s use of the name “Big Mac.” The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) had previously dismissed Supermac’s application for revocation.

• Court Decision: The General Court rejected McDonald’s arguments and partially annulled EUIPO’s decision. They ruled that McDonald’s had not proved genuine use of the term within a continuous period of five years in the European Union for poultry products.

• Appeal: McDonald’s can appeal this ruling to the Court of Justice of the European Union.

This case highlights the importance of maintaining active use of trademarks to retain exclusive rights. If you have any more legal queries or need further information, feel free to ask! 😊 ¹²³⁴