Big Mac Trademark Row: Supermac’s wins UK ruling

Supermac's wins in UK court

What the Big Mac trademark ruling said

The UKIPO found "significant visual, aural and conceptual differences" between the Supermac's and McDonald's marks — including Big Mac and McCafé — that were "sufficient for a consumer not to directly confuse the marks". Supermac's, founded by Galway businessman Pat McDonagh in 1978, is now the largest Irish-owned fast-food firm in the Republic of Ireland. The win is a rare dent in McDonald's grip on the UK burger market.

We've never had their scale or resources, but we've always believed every business deserves the same protection under the law, regardless of its size.

McDonagh, speaking to RTÉ, welcomed the decision. It comes just weeks after the EU Intellectual Property Office upheld a ruling that Supermac's cannot register its name across the EU, where it found a likelihood of confusion with the Big Mac trademark, as BBC News reported. That decision does not affect Supermac's trading in Ireland.