McDonald's Doesn't Own 'Mc' Prefix: Malaysian Judge

Court reverses decision against McCurry's restaurant
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 29, 2009 4:58 PM CDT
McDonald's Doesn't Own 'Mc' Prefix: Malaysian Judge
A McDonald's restaurant sign is seen in Springfield, Ill.   (AP Photo)

A Malaysian court ruled that McDonald’s does not control the rights to every word with the “Mc” prefix, the AP reports. The appellate court overturned a 2006 decision that forced a Malaysian restaurant named “McCurry’s” to pay damages to McDonald’s for using the name to associate its business with the fast-food chain.

In granting the appeal, the judge ruled that one must consider the totality of the business’ branding—McCurry’s, which the owners claim stands for “Malaysian Chicken Curry” has a logo and sign that bear little resemblance to the golden-arches-on-red that McDonald’s uses. Therefore, “McCurry’s Restaurant signboard would not result in reasonable persons associating McCurry with the McDonald’s mark,” judge Gopal Sri Ram said. (More McDonald's stories.)

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