👉 Background: We all know McDonald's as the world's largest fast food chain with its legendary Golden Arches and delicious fries and apple pie (quiet fan-favourite).  

👉 What happened: Over the past 3 years, McDonald's Australia has been in a bitter war with Hungry Jacks. They claimed that Hungry Jack's infringed on their trademark by copycatting their Big Mac burger with the 'Big Jack'.

👉 What else: But Maccas has just lost its three-year legal dispute with Hungry Jack's. And while the court ruled against McDonalds' claim, it's clear that old Micky D's isn't one to be messed with when it comes to their brand.

What's the key learning?

💡Some business disputes aren’t just about winning or losing, they're also about the wider public message.

💡Businesses will spend millions to protect their brand and reputation - even against the most minor threats. Since legal disputes can be a major financial drain for companies, you can imagine competitors might think twice before messing with Maccas again.

💡McDonald's isn't the only company to take these threats to brand seriously. Apple sued Samsung in 2011, claiming that Samsung's smartphones infringed on their design and trademarks. It was ultimately seen as Apple showing its readiness to protect its brand.