McChina saves name
07 December 2001 by PA News (AF)
A Chinese immigrant has successfully challenged the might of McDonald's with his McChina fast-food chain.
Frank Yuen opened his first McChina in Wimbledon, London, in 1991 and had planned to have a national chain by 1995. But McDonald's objected when he tried to register his restaurant name as a trademark.
At London's High Court last week, Mr Justice Neuberger allowed Yuen's appeal that McChina would not cause confusion. As a result of the ruling, his restaurants can continue to trade under the name.
Neuberger said McDonald's had claimed it held the rights for the Mc and Mac marks.
"They are virtually seeking to monopolise all names and words with the prefix Mc or Mac, at least in relation to food or restaurant services," he said.
