In a legal dispute with Supermac's, an Irish fast-food chain, the European Intellectual Property Office ruled that McDonald's did not prove the "real use" of the Big Mac trademark in European countries, but left the name of the Big Mac. Supermac's cited the case as an example of trademark bullying, saying it was a victory for all small businesses, preventing large companies from hoarding trademarks rather than actually using them. McDonald's said it planned to appeal the decision of the European Intellectual Property Office.
