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Niamh. · 17-01-2019, 08:48 AM

Good for him, Supermacs is nicer than McDonalds anyway

Pat McDonagh earned the nickname Supermac as an Irish teenager after a barnstorming performance in a Gaelic football match in the late 1960s.

The centre half-back guided his school, Carmelite college of Moate, County Westmeath, to victory over St Gerald’s, a more fancied team.

On Tuesday, half a century later, McDonagh prevailed in a different arena when his fast-food chain, Supermac’s, won a landmark legal battle against McDonald’s over the use of trademarks.

The Galway-based firm persuaded the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to cancel McDonald’s use of the “Big Mac” trademark, opening the way for Supermac to expand across Britain and continental Europe.

McDonald’s can appeal against the ruling.

“We’re delighted. It’s a unique victory when you take on the golden arches and win,” McDonagh, Supermac’s managing director, said.

“This is a victory for all small businesses. It prevents bigger companies from hoarding trademarks with no intention of using them.”

The EUIPO, which is based in Alicante, Spain, ruled that McDonald’s had not proven genuine use of Big Mac, which it trademarked in 1996, as a burger or restaurant name.

The trademark had stymied Supermac’s ambition of expanding beyond Ireland because McDonald’s had argued that similarity between Big Mac and Supermac would confuse customers.

“We said there’d be no confusion. Big Mac and Supermac are two different things,” said McDonagh, 65.

He opened the first Supermac’s in Ballinasloe, a town in county Galway, in 1978. The company now has 106 outlets across Ireland and Northern Ireland.

In a statement, Supermac’s said it had won a David versus Goliath battle against trademark bullying by a powerful multinational.

“They trademarked the SnackBox, which is one of Supermac’s most popular products, even though the product is not actually offered by them,” said McDonagh. “The EU is basically saying either use it or lose it.”

On the day of the Brexit vote in Westminster the case showed the value of European Union membership, he said. “You can go to the EU and get a fair hearing.”

McDonald’s did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

https://www.theguardian.com/business...cdKmQezmMrAD2k

arista · 17-01-2019, 08:59 AM

Supermacs
is nothing like Big Mac TM

Toy Soldier · 17-01-2019, 09:00 AM

Is it BIGGER than a Big Mac though, that's the important question.

Niamh. · 17-01-2019, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Is it BIGGER than a Big Mac though, that's the important question.

It's the name of the restaurant "Supermac's" that they weren't allowed use outside of Ireland because McDonalds had "Big Mac" trademarked and said Supermacs was too similar to it which is pretty ridiculous

LukeB · 17-01-2019, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Is it BIGGER than a Big Mac though, that's the important question.

It’s mcdonalds so ofc it would be

Crimson Dynamo · 17-01-2019, 09:03 AM

and I bet they use Irish meat...

neigh chance

arista · 17-01-2019, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

and I bet they use Irish meat...

neigh chance

Yes and any cheaper imports

Niamh. · 17-01-2019, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arista

Yes and any cheaper imports

Feck off, Supermacs is way nicer than McDonalds and you can get almost everything there

Niamh. · 17-01-2019, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Is it BIGGER than a Big Mac though, that's the important question.

Livia · 17-01-2019, 09:18 AM

Good for Supermacs. I hate the big conglomerates' mentality that they can dictate to small businesses. Next time I go to Ireland I'll make a point of having a Supermac.

Did you HAVE to post a pic, Niamh? I haven't had any breakfast and I'm starving...

arista · 17-01-2019, 09:18 AM

Triple Big Mac

Niamh. · 17-01-2019, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Livia

Good for Supermacs. I hate the big conglomerates' mentality that they can dictate to small businesses. Next time I go to Ireland I'll make a point of having a Supermac.

Did you HAVE to post a pic, Niamh? I haven't had any breakfast and I'm starving...

But yeah, there's no way anyone would ever "confuse" any restaurant with McDonalds anyway, they're the most recognisable fast food chain out there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by arista

Triple Big Mac

Their "big Mac" is called a mighty mac

Crimson Dynamo · 17-01-2019, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Niamh.

I am quite sure that they gallop of the shelves..

Toy Soldier · 17-01-2019, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Niamh.

. I'd have to take out the pickle and tomato though

. I don't mind tomatoes in general but they overpower the flavour of a burger

.

Toy Soldier · 17-01-2019, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

I am quite sure that they gallop of the shelves..

Horse meat is delicious anyway LT. It's similar to venison but without the gaminess and it's higher in protein and lower in fat than beef. It's just taboo to eat it because Horses are one of the "chosen few" animals that humans have chosen to personify... if you apply any logic to it, it's ridiculous that people are like "OMG no don't eat that horse! Eat this cow instead."

Niamh. · 17-01-2019, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Horse meat is delicious anyway LT. It's similar to venison but without the gaminess and it's higher in protein and lower in fat than beef. It's just taboo to eat it because Horses are one of the "chosen few" animals that humans have chosen to personify... if you apply any logic to it, it's ridiculous that people are like "OMG no don't eat that horse! Eat this cow instead."

Exactly. It's geography, like religion really. I don't know why people think eating certain animals is horrific but cows and sheep etc is fine

bots · 17-01-2019, 09:59 AM

I ordered up horse meat when i was abroad once without realising and it was very tasty

Livia · 17-01-2019, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Horse meat is delicious anyway LT. It's similar to venison but without the gaminess and it's higher in protein and lower in fat than beef. It's just taboo to eat it because Horses are one of the "chosen few" animals that humans have chosen to personify... if you apply any logic to it, it's ridiculous that people are like "OMG no don't eat that horse! Eat this cow instead."

Horses are not the "chosen few"... even though we don't eat them, we've used and abused them as much, if not more, than other animals over the years. Horses are not bred for meat and they're often kept as pets to ride... no one wants to eat something that may be a pet. Also I don't want to eat Bambi nor Shaun the Sheep.