Who Owns the Prefix “Mc”?
In a rare setback for McDonald’s, a court has ruled that the fast-food chain does NOT have a trademark monopoly on the prefix “Mc.” Congratulations are in order for McCurry Restaurant of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (“Home Food, Away From Home, Tasty and So Goood….”) The eatery spent eight years trying to establish that the San Diego-based purveyor of fast food, with over 30,000 outlets in 100 countries, does not legally own the Irish prefix “Mc.” It’s sound crazy that anyone would have to go to court to be able to use a common prefix from the English language, albeit one that derived from the kilt-wearing cousins of English people. Still, given the drift of trademark law in the past few decades, this is a real accomplishment. It is relief to know that there is now a precedent for using “Mc” without inciting the wrath of McDonald’s lawyers. I was starting to worry that McDonald’s would soon start to enforce it trademark over the phrase, “I’m lovin’ it!” among the dozens of other marketing ta
