Can McDonald’s Claim That “Mac” is Theirs?
McDonald’s might be the home of a smiling clown and friendly “I’m lovin’ it” ads, but when it comes to defending their trademarks, they’re notoriously ruthless.
Erin Wade and Allison Arevalo, friends and small business owners in Oakland, CA, recently discovered it’s unwise to tread on anything the burger giant considers a trademark. The duo planned to name their restaurant — a neighborhood joint featuring macaroni and cheese made from artisanal cheeses and local ingredients — Little Mac. But last week, corporate counsel for the Golden Arches nixed the name, claiming that the word “mac” is the intellectual property of McDonalds.
Wade says they were stunned: “We were like, wait a minute, we’re a mac and cheese shop and we can’t use the word ‘mac’ at all?”
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