Sydney burger shop lands in trouble with McDonald's over 'special' meal
A restaurant in Sydney’s west has been slapped with a cease and desist letter by McDonald’s after promoting its “Better Mac” burger on social media.
Burger Head, in Penrith, took to Facebook on Monday to introduce the new burger special, which bears similar features to the fast food chain’s iconic meal.
“You've seen @mcdonaldsau bring out their bigger better Big Mac, the Grand Mac,” staff wrote, referencing the fast food chain’s decision to bring back the Grand Big Mac.
“Here’s our take on things…Better Mac. We could list the ingredients but you all know what's in this,” they said.
Just two days later, staff posted an image of the legal letter from McDonald’s, saying they had put their foot “in the McS***”.
“The burger will now be referred to as ‘The Whopper’,” they joked.
The cease and desist letter claimed the Better Mac is “deceptively similar to McDonald’s famous Big Mac trademark for burgers.”
Burger Head’s co-founders, Joshua DeLuca and Timothy Rosenstrauss, told News.com.au they were surprised to receive the letter.
“We didn’t think it would pop up on their radar at all, we are just a small business after all,” Mr DeLuca said.
Mr Rosenstrauss told the publication he doesn’t believe the burger is “deceptively similar.”
Although they poked fun at the letter online, the pair said they will replace the name and called on social media followers for help.
“So a certain clown ain't too happy with a certain special's name. We need a new name for it and open to suggestions. The one with the most likes wins,” they wrote.
“We think a certain legal team needs a Happy Meal”.
Customers were quick to throw their suggestions into the ring, with one man recommending “The Cease and Desist”.
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