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McDonald’s no longer has the exclusive right to use the label “Big Mac” in reference to chicken burgers sold in the European Union after a ruling by the EU’s highest court.<\/p>\n
The American fast-food chain popularised the nickname for large burger sandwiches, registering it as a trademark in the EU in 1996.<\/p>\n
But following a legal challenge from Supermac’s, a rival chain in Ireland, other companies will now be free to use the name “Mac” to sell poultry products or in their chains’ names.<\/p>\n
The European Court of Justice found that McDonald’s could not show it had made genuine use of the trademark for a continuous period of five years.<\/p>\n
“McDonald’s loses the EU trade mark ‘Big Mac’ in respect of poultry products,” the judges ruled.<\/p>\n
McDonald’s noted in a statement that the court’s decision did not affect its right to use the “Big Mac” trademark.<\/p>\n
But it does open the door for other chains to use the name, including Supermac, the firm that brought the challenge.<\/p>\n
Supermac, founded in 1978 in Galway, sells beef and chicken burgers and chicken nuggets at 120 red and white branded outlets across Ireland.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n