Today I met with Jim McCaslin, the owner of McSweet Gourmet products.

For several years he's run a successful business selling pickled olives, onions and other vegetables to restaurants and online. Like any good businessman, last year he applied for trademark protection with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

That's when fast food giant McDonald's came into the picture.
I've learned from noted trademark attorney Michael Atkins, that big corporations like McDonald's, Starbucks, etc., take the protection of its brands very seriously. It doesn't matter if you're selling pickled onions out of your home or from a storefront. If your product can be confused in anyway with another, you open yourself up to the possibility of getting sued or, as in this case, have the complainant, (McDonald's) request you not trademark the name.

In 1994, McDonald's successfully forced a California coffee owner to change the name of her shop, which was then called, "McCoffee." Her name by the way is Elizabeth McCaughey; it was a play on her name.

What are your thoughts on this issue?


(Read the full KING 5 report here.)

5 Comments

bob said:

McDonald's should protect their trademark. Period. Any further comment on this is irrelevant. Period. Just try and make a comment. Go on, try.

April 25, 2008 8:18 PM

Peter said:

So they should be able to trademark everything that has Mc in front of it? I think not.

April 25, 2008 9:09 PM

Diane said:

McDonalds has become too big for its britches, in my honest opinion. They should not be allowed to sue anyone for using the name McNameHere. There are millions of people across the globe with names that start with Mac, Mc or Mic. They should be allowed to have their names as part of their business just like McDonalds is. How would they like it if someone named Donald came along and sued them for using HIS name in their business because it was trademarked prior to McDonalds? I think they would be a bit upset.

April 26, 2008 8:29 AM

skok said:

unless Mc was copyrighted or patented. . .whether it is McSeattle, McJob, or McSweet. Too Bad So Sad.

April 26, 2008 4:27 PM

ron said:

bob is correct...they should TRY to protect it...

but im confident the ruling body will see this for what it is...corporate bullying.

now.... if McSweet got into the fries buisness....

May 9, 2008 5:07 PM

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