McPatel vs McDonald’s: Indian French Fries Brand Battles Global Giant Over ‘Mc’ Identity Amid Trademark Dispute

In what promises to be the mother of all delicious legal battles over the use of ‘Mc', which means ‘son of', a local food company, McPatel Foods Pvt Ltd, has dragged global fast-food giant McDonald's Corporation to the court.

The Ahmedabad-based firm, which sells French fries under the brand ‘Ohh! Potato', filed a trademark suit accusing McDonald's of issuing "groundless threats" over its use of the prefix.

Last month, McPatel moved the Ahmedabad rural court, seeking to restrain McDonald's from objecting to the use of ‘Mc' in its name. The suit was filed under Section 142 of the Trademark Act to prevent the multinational company from issuing "groundless threats".

H S Tolia, Senior Counsel representing McPatel Foods Pvt Ltd:

"McDonald's issued a notice to McPatel claiming that the prefix Mc is its identity and insisted that the local company should stop using this prefix or else it would take legal action."