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IRISH FAST FOOD restaurant Supermac’s is stepping up its bid for international expansion with a new European trademark application.
This is being submitted to the EU’s Spain-based Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), which until two months ago was known as the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market.
This move is the latest development in a long-running saga that has seen Supermac’s go head-to-head with international fast-food giant McDonald’s.
In January, a trademark claim by McDonald’s to the EUIPO was partially upheld – blocking a EU-wide trademark application by Supermac’s on a number of its items.
The authority ruled that if the Irish company was allowed to sell its products and services in Europe, there was a “likelihood of confusion” with McDonald’s products and services – with these including toys, food, drinks, coffee, ice-cream and meat.
While the company didn’t secure rights over its individual products, it was granted trademark rights over its own brand and name in Europe as a result of the case.
What’s new?
With the new application today, Supermac’s will be applying to have the full range of its products and services covered by trademark.
This has seen the company withdraw an appeal that it made to January’s decision and re-submit a new request.
This will address issues that came up when the trademark application was made for specific products back in January – although it is understood that it does not have plans to alter its products for an international market.
As of yet it is unclear whether multinational McDonald’s will again object to the application.
Speaking about the move, managing director of Supermac’s Pat McDonagh said: “This is another progressive step forward for Supermac’s… we have made a new trademark application that we believe will have a strong chance of success across every single one of our products.”
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Garlic cheese chips after a piss up in Prague, isn’t this what the EU is all about?
So much work put into expanding into Europe, what is wrong with County Donegal?
god help europe
I think There is an agreement in place with Supermacs and 4 Lanterns that one will not go into the others home county.. I could be wrong, but I remember hearing that some time ago..
I’d murder a smokey bacon burger right now.
It’s supermacs or irexit
Nothing like a Mighty Mac meal on the train…yes I am one of those people.
They sell the bloody thing in the station so it’s not as if you are doing anything that Irish Rail don’t want
Anybody who gets Supermacs in Heuston station and then takes it on to the train deserves the death penalty.
Can I take it TheFairWind, that you don’t like TheFoulWind that comes afterwards?
Any inconsiderate p☆ick that brings any hot take away food onto any public transport deserves to be shot with a ball of their own sh☆ite. Yeah. Talking about you on the 65 with your Chinese stinking the rest of us out of it!
The Supermacs in Hueston has lots of tables and chairs.
The Supermacs in Question has lots of napkins.
Unless it’s a spicbag, then I want some.
Crap food it is but MCDonalds dont have the right to stop there expansion.
*their
Agreed leitrim unfettered capitalism must provail
Supermuck
Our European partners wont buy Supermacs.
He is right though, red thumb all you want. Looks and feels like the discount version of McDonald’s.
Never understood how anyone could eat there.
As cheap, unhealthy fast food goes its probably the worst possible option.
It is certainly not discounted, actually feels more expensive.
It’s far superior to McDonald’s
Wouldn’t buy super macs in this country ,,, I’d hate to see super Mac shiteaway in other country’s
Supermac’s can only improve abroad, their stuff is bland AF.
@ Ben Coughlan .. Bland AF is what the irish pallet loves and fried .. The most obese of Europe ..
Tullow tank eats their burgers is that why he’s always injured
Nasty greasy food….worse than McDs
Free defibrillator with every 5 snack boxes,pure muck
Might be for the best the application is not granted, the food is feckin shite!
The EUIPO did not stop Supermacs from using, only from registering as a TM throughout the EU. Only a court can stop use and the EUIPO is not a court.
Go Supermacs gooooo……. yeah yeah yeahhhhh
It is a blatant rip off of McDonald’s so he has a fight on his hands.
Er, how so? By being a chipper? Like Burger King and KFC?
Come on are the names burger king or KFC bigger that Mc Donalds? I believe Pat was called SuperMac in his school years, but I think the use of this name was designed to align the two, when that couldn’t happen because Mc Donalds managed to create a model that SuperMac’s doesn’t have.
Oh good they’re selling toys; at last something worth eating at Supermacs. I saw their TV ad the other night and I’d nearly eat one of their burgers if I get a guarantee I’ll never have to watch it again.
It wont tsste the same somewhere away fifferent suppliers different all round . Like mcds in usa i dosent taste same as here or bk just keep it home
Put the phone down and keep your eyes on the road.
“Can see the marks where the jockey was hitting it” (Rodney Dangerfield, 1980).
Why not change name outside ireland like Bulmers,mind you can’t see Spanish or French sitting down to that s#ite
Fair play to them, wish them every success
The new ad for the Chicken sangwich is hilarious and the Tullow Tank pops in at the end.
It must of sprung up overnight
have your say