McDonalds bans man from own name - RedsZone.com - Cincinnati Reds Fans' Home for Baseball Discussion

savafan · 07-13-2005, 10:55 AM

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117...-13762,00.html

AN Australian lawyer has fired back with a lawsuit against McDonald's after the fast-food giant blocked him for registering his nickname as a trademark.
Malcolm McBratney vowed not to back down in the battle that erupted earlier this year, when McDonald's took exception to his use of "McBrat" on the uniforms of a local rugby team.

"What it boils down to is that McDonald's seems to be trying to own not only the McDonald name but everything beginning with Mc," said McBratney, who is a specialist in intellectual property rights.

"There are a lot of people with Irish and Scottish heritage who'd dispute that, including me, and I'm prepared to take them on."

McDonald's Australia spokeswoman Kristene Mullen denied the burger giant was trying to monopolise the "Mc" prefix.

"McDonald's is like any company with intellectual property it wants to protect," Mullen told AFP. "We want to protect our investment, our image and our brand."

McBratney sponsored the Brisbane Irish rugby union team, which adopted the McBrat tag on the back of their shorts because they claimed his full name would not fit.

The company objected that McBrat could be confused with McKids. Mullen said that toys with the McKids logo had been on sale in retail outlets since earlier this year.

But McBratney said a trademark could be challenged in Australia if it had not been used for more than three years, and that McKids had been dormant since it was registered in 1987. His suit seeks to de-register McKids.

"I think it smacks of corporate arrogance that even though McDonald's is not using the McKids trademark in Australia, it still thinks it can block the registration of a separate trademark that has nothing to do with its business," McBratney said.

The Brisbane team is boycotting the chain, once a favourite haunt, in a full show of McSupport.

"Our team, with its Irish heritage, has many Mcs in it and they are all outraged," team spokesman Shane Quinn said. He said the company "really have got to be McKidding."

RedsBaron · 07-13-2005, 10:59 AM

I hope McBratney kicks McDonald's McButt.

WVRed · 07-13-2005, 11:04 AM

I wonder what McDonalds thinks of the word "McJob"?

Unassisted · 07-13-2005, 12:03 PM

Too many McLawyers with too little to do. Go get 'em, McBratney!

pedro · 07-13-2005, 12:06 PM

McDonalds McSucks.

Yachtzee · 07-13-2005, 10:47 PM

McFascists!

Johnny Vander m · 07-13-2005, 11:50 PM

Anyone who eats at McDonalds has to be McNuts anyway. Worst fast food on the McEarth. Rather eat at McWendys or McHardys. Best is at McHome on my McGrill.

RFS62 · 07-13-2005, 11:51 PM

I don't know. Their wormburger is pretty McTasty

Johnny Vander m · 07-13-2005, 11:59 PM

RFS62, most of the time the worms are still alive and I just can't just go for that. Any body have Whataburgers where you live? They have them here and in Pensacola, I kind of like them myself. Wish I could get an ole Maderite from Greenville Ohio right about now.

RFS62 · 07-14-2005, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Vander m

RFS62, most of the time the worms are still alive and I just can't just go for that.

Yeah, you gotta draw the line somewhere.

Quote:

Any body have Whataburgers where you live? They have them here and in Pensacola, I kind of like them myself.

I've seen them in Texas also.

remdog · 07-14-2005, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Vander m

Anyone who eats at McDonalds has to be McNuts anyway. Worst fast food on the McEarth. Rather eat at McWendys or McHardys. Best is at McHome on my McGrill.

Couldn't agree with you McMore.

Rem

Unassisted · 07-14-2005, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Vander m

Any body have Whataburgers where you live? They have them here and in Pensacola, I kind of like them myself. Wish I could get an ole Maderite from Greenville Ohio right about now.

I have a Whataburger in my neighborhood. The burger's a little on the salty side, and it seems like every other one I get has a bone chip in it. There's something about Whataburger's ketchup that I really like, though. The company is based in Corpus Christi.

Maid-Rite is based in Iowa. I tried it once when I lived in Wisconsin. The company's still around and you just might be able to find one. http://www.maid-rite.com/

edit: Looks like there's a new Maid-Rite location in Piqua.

registerthis · 07-14-2005, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Vander m

Anyone who eats at McDonalds has to be McNuts anyway. Worst fast food on the McEarth. Rather eat at McWendys or McHardys. Best is at McHome on my McGrill.

Hah hah

Agreed!

TRF · 07-14-2005, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unassisted

I have a Whataburger in my neighborhood. The burger's a little on the salty side, and it seems like every other one I get has a bone chip in it. There's something about Whataburger's ketchup that I really like, though. The company is based in Corpus Christi.

Maid-Rite is based in Iowa. I tried it once when I lived in Wisconsin. The company's still around and you just might be able to find one. http://www.maid-rite.com/

edit: Looks like there's a new Maid-Rite location in Piqua.

I love whataburger wednesday. 2 for the price of one. i prefer the triple with cheese.

Yachtzee · 07-14-2005, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Vander m

Anyone who eats at McDonalds has to be McNuts anyway. Worst fast food on the McEarth. Rather eat at McWendys or McHardys. Best is at McHome on my McGrill.

Burger of the Gods (courtesy of Alton Brown)

1/2 lb. Ground Sirloin
1/2 lb. Ground Chuck
1/2 tsp. Kosher Salt

mix it up in a bowl, make into 4 patties and throw them on the grill. Delicious!

07-13-2005, 10:55 AM	#1
savafan Maple SERP Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 17,485	McDonalds bans man from own name http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117...-13762,00.html AN Australian lawyer has fired back with a lawsuit against McDonald's after the fast-food giant blocked him for registering his nickname as a trademark. Malcolm McBratney vowed not to back down in the battle that erupted earlier this year, when McDonald's took exception to his use of "McBrat" on the uniforms of a local rugby team. "What it boils down to is that McDonald's seems to be trying to own not only the McDonald name but everything beginning with Mc," said McBratney, who is a specialist in intellectual property rights. "There are a lot of people with Irish and Scottish heritage who'd dispute that, including me, and I'm prepared to take them on." McDonald's Australia spokeswoman Kristene Mullen denied the burger giant was trying to monopolise the "Mc" prefix. "McDonald's is like any company with intellectual property it wants to protect," Mullen told AFP. "We want to protect our investment, our image and our brand." McBratney sponsored the Brisbane Irish rugby union team, which adopted the McBrat tag on the back of their shorts because they claimed his full name would not fit. The company objected that McBrat could be confused with McKids. Mullen said that toys with the McKids logo had been on sale in retail outlets since earlier this year. But McBratney said a trademark could be challenged in Australia if it had not been used for more than three years, and that McKids had been dormant since it was registered in 1987. His suit seeks to de-register McKids. "I think it smacks of corporate arrogance that even though McDonald's is not using the McKids trademark in Australia, it still thinks it can block the registration of a separate trademark that has nothing to do with its business," McBratney said. The Brisbane team is boycotting the chain, once a favourite haunt, in a full show of McSupport. "Our team, with its Irish heritage, has many Mcs in it and they are all outraged," team spokesman Shane Quinn said. He said the company "really have got to be McKidding." __________________ This is the Cal Ripkin Jr. of typos. If you ask me to join your fantasy baseball league and I select Legolas in the first round, don't be angry at me. It's not my fault I've read up on the players and you haven't.

07-13-2005, 10:59 AM	#2
RedsBaron Big Red Machine Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Out Wayne Posts: 22,365	Re: McDonalds bans man from own name I hope McBratney kicks McDonald's McButt. __________________ "Hey...Dad. Wanna Have A Catch?" Kevin Costner in "Field Of Dreams."

07-13-2005, 12:03 PM	#4
Unassisted RZ Chamber of Commerce Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: San Antonio Posts: 13,222	Re: McDonalds bans man from own name Too many McLawyers with too little to do. Go get 'em, McBratney! __________________ /r/reds

07-13-2005, 12:06 PM	#5
pedro Please come again Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: portland, oregon Posts: 14,716	Re: McDonalds bans man from own name McDonalds McSucks. __________________ Get your nunchucks and the keys to your dad's car. I know where we can get a gun

07-13-2005, 10:47 PM	#6
Yachtzee Hisssssssss Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Land of the Lost Posts: 6,985	Re: McDonalds bans man from own name McFascists!

07-13-2005, 11:50 PM	#7
Johnny Vander m Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arcanum Ohio via Nashville Tn and Jackson MS. Posts: 1,508	Re: McDonalds bans man from own name Anyone who eats at McDonalds has to be McNuts anyway. Worst fast food on the McEarth. Rather eat at McWendys or McHardys. Best is at McHome on my McGrill.

07-13-2005, 11:51 PM	#8
RFS62 Hey Cubs Fans Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: New York Posts: 16,567	Re: McDonalds bans man from own name I don't know. Their wormburger is pretty McTasty __________________ "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." ~ Mark Twain

07-13-2005, 11:59 PM	#9
Johnny Vander m Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arcanum Ohio via Nashville Tn and Jackson MS. Posts: 1,508	Re: McDonalds bans man from own name RFS62, most of the time the worms are still alive and I just can't just go for that. Any body have Whataburgers where you live? They have them here and in Pensacola, I kind of like them myself. Wish I could get an ole Maderite from Greenville Ohio right about now.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode