McDonald’s threatened a burger van owner with legal action because his business is called Matty C’s.
Matthew Coldham, 35, from Norwich, who makes £40 a day, was accused of ripping off the fast food giant’s ‘Maccy D’s’ nickname.
He received an eight-page lawyer’s letter which claimed he had infringed its trademark rights under EU law.
It also said the ‘M’ and ‘C’ of the logo, which was designed by a friend, in different colours would mean people would read it as ‘Mc’.
However, Mr Coldham took on the global organisation and forced it to back down.
McDonald’s threatened a burger van owner with legal action because his business is called Matty C’s
Matthew Coldham, 35, from Norwich, who makes £40 a day, was accused of ripping off the fast food giant’s ‘Maccy D’s’ nickname
It also said the ‘M’ and ‘C’ of the logo, which was designed by a friend, in different colours would mean people would read it as ‘Mc’
He told The Sun: ‘It’s ridiculous. They’re suggesting I’m trying to pass myself off as McDonald’s.
‘When was the last time you saw McDonald’s served from a trailer on an industrial estate?
‘My mate designed the logo and it never occurred to me it was like McDonald’s – the rest of the design gives it a totally different context.’
The letter warned that McDonald’s would consider ‘further legal action’ if Mr Coldham didn’t change his branding and offered to pay up to £500 of the costs if he sent in receipts.
But the fast food giant later backed down when the burger van man called the lawyers to say he was just a small trader.
The letter warned that McDonald’s would consider ‘further legal action’ if Mr Coldham didn’t change his branding and offered to pay up to £500 of the costs if he sent in receipts
But the fast food giant later back down when the burger van man called the lawyers to say he was just a small trader
A McDonald’s spokeswoman told MailOnline: ‘We always take steps to protect our intellectual property and brand’
A McDonald’s spokeswoman told MailOnline: ‘We always take steps to protect our intellectual property and brand.
‘However, we have been in conversation with Mr Coldham and have already confirmed to him earlier this week that we currently have no plans to take this matter any further.’