McDonalds Vs McCurry (Modern Goliath V David)

This is a modern day story of David versus Goliath. One is an international conglomerate, the other a small neighborhood business. This is the news report:

The international fast food company, McDonald's, has lost its eight-year legal battle against a Malaysian restaurant run under the name McCurry. The global franchise network must allow a local restaurant selling typical Indian dishes to use the prefix 'Mc' in its name. McDonald's believed the name with the prefix 'Mc' was violating its protected brand name. The court however justified its decision saying that McDonald's does not have sole rights to a prefix or to a part of its name. The court, therefore, agreed with the argument put forward by the lawyer representing the owner of the McCurry restaurant, Kanages Suppiah. Furthermore, the court stated that there was no danger of the McCurry restaurant being mistaken for the American fast food chain.

McCurry Restaurant was founded in 1999 and it serves Malaysian and South Indian specialities such as fish-head curry, tandoori naan and mutton and chicken curries. McCurry actually stands for "Malaysian Chicken Curry" says the owner after his epic court battle victory. Having tasted the sweetness of success, the owners are now planning to go international by setting up franchises worldwide. Thanks to the world wide publicity gained over this legal case they may just be able to make a success out of it as apparently they have many enquiries from interested investors.Other McDonald Battles

McDonald has over the years won some court battles to prevent others from using the prefix Mc, which they claim is their trademark. Here are two landmark cases over the battle of the title:

McSleep In 1988 McDonald's won a lawsuit against Quality Inns International to stop the company using the name McSleep Inns for a chain of budget hotels

McBratAn Australian rugby team nicknamed the McBrats won a legal battle against the fast-food chain in 2006 after it tried to stop the name being printed on their shorts

I am not sure why McDonalds see the prefix is wholly theirs. If that is so, many Scots and Welsh might have to stop using their surnames! How ridiculous. Furthermore they are fighting against businesses that have no similarity with the fast food they serve.Many more legal cases can be found here.