McDonald's

McDonald's, a global icon in the fast-food industry, traces its origins to 1940 when Richard and Maurice McDonald opened their first restaurant in San Bernardino, California. However, the company as we know it today began to take shape in 1955 when Ray Kroc joined the business and subsequently bought the exclusive rights to franchise McDonald's. The famous Golden Arches, an integral part of McDonald's brand identity, were first trademarked in 1961. This trademark, encompassing the distinctive arches forming an "M," solidified the company's visual recognition and became synonymous with its fast-food empire.

McDonald's maintains a proactive stance in monitoring its trademarks, taking swift action against perceived infringements. In Malaysia, McDonald's initiated legal action against a local restaurant named McCurry, alleging that the restaurant's name and logo were too similar to McDonald's trademarks. Despite McCurry specializing in Malaysian cuisine and not directly competing with McDonald's, the dispute highlighted concerns over name similarities and potential confusion among consumers. In 2017, McDonald's sent a cease-and-desist letter to a family-run café in Scotland named "McMunchies," claiming that the use of the "Mc" prefix in the café's name and branding could cause confusion among customers. The café's owners decided to change the name voluntarily, citing concerns about potential legal battles with the multinational corporation.