McDonald’s Special Sauce: Defending the McBrand

McDonald’s has been in the news lately for all the wrong reasons. Being dragged into a presidential election controversy and having an E. coli outbreak in the same week will do that to a company.

However, it will undoubtedly weather the storm because of the popularity of its registered trademarks, I mean, food:

MarkGoods/Services
MCD (Stylized)
Reg: 1037773
Serial: 73059270  
003 concentrated all purpose cleaner, sanitizer-detergent, deep fat fryer boil-out compound, stainless steel cleaner-dressing and chemical cleaner for grills;  
MC CHICKEN
Reg: 1065885
Serial: 73076294
029 cooked chicken for consumption on or off the premises;  
MC DOUBLE
Reg: 1266500
Serial: 73370485
030 a sandwich for consumption on or off premises;  
MCRIB
Reg: 1315979
Serial: 73369229
030 a sandwich for consumption on or off the premises;  
MCMUFFIN
Reg: 1369360
Serial: 73537686
030 breakfast food combination sandwich for consumption on or off the premises;  
MCDONALDS
Reg: 1426681
Serial: 73397249
029 chicken, hashbrown pototoes, prepared eggs, milk, fresh garden salads and processed ingredients thereof, for consumption on or off the premises;  
030 hamburger and cheeseburger sandwiches and special combination sandwiches featuring hamburgers and cheeseburgers, hotcakes, table syrup, fruit pies, special combination egg sandwiches, tea, pastries, chicken sandwiches, pork sandwiches, and biscuit and sausage sandwiches for consumption on or off the premises;  
032 carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks for consumption on or off the premises;  
MCDONALDS
Reg: 1440655
Serial: 73397665
025 men’s clothing, women’s clothing and children’s clothing, namely, t-shirts, hats, athletic shirts, sweat shirts and jerseys;  
MCGRIDDLES
Reg: 2678272
Serial: 78115190
030 sandwiches consisting of hot cakes, beef, chicken, pork, and egg and cheese products;  
MCFLURRY
Reg: 2805109
Serial: 75408400
030 dairy based dessert products namely, ice cream and frozen confections;  
MCDONALD’S ALL AMERICAN
Reg: 3074164
Serial: 78135408
041 entertainment services namely, conducting athletic events in the nature of basketball and soccer clinics and competitions;  
MCCAFE
Reg: 3201441
Serial: 78827670
030 beverages made of coffee beans, hot chocolate, pastries, muffins, cakes, cookies, biscuits and sandwiches;  
MCCAFE
Reg: 3212858
Serial: 78827644
029 milk-based beverages containing coffee, fruit and fruit juice;  
MCNUGGET
Reg: 4071074
Serial: 77822521
029 products made of poultry;  
MCDELIVERY
Reg: 5241952
Serial: 86598124
039 delivery of goods; delivery of food by restaurants;  
MCDONALD’S
Reg: 743572
Serial: 72119302
042 drive-in restaurant services;  

You probably noticed a certain McTheme to the McDonald’s McMarks. McDonald’s takes its McBranding process very seriously. And anyone who uses or tries to register a trademark starting with “MC” will undoubtedly end up on the receiving end of a cease and desist letter, trademark opposition, or lawsuit. In the last few months alone, McDonald’s has formally opposed trademark applications for MCWRAP, MCCOL, MCDFL, MCBEAUX, MCAHPLANET, MCROLL, MCSALAY, MCLAMBO, MCCORL, MCCAPITAL, MCLISS, MCVAZE, MCPINKY, and MCMAYR. I’m sure their trademark lawyers are loving it … Ba da ba ba ba.

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