Ronald McDonald in Taco Bell commercial.....

[cbdo2007]

Having a disagreement with some friends over whether or not this would be trademark infringement if McDonald's wished to pursue it. Any legal eagles know?

From my limited understanding....even though the people are really named "Ronald McDonald", using that trademarked moniker in any fast food commercial would be tantamount to trademark infringement and that if McDonald's had a problem with it they coudl sue Taco Bell and probably win.

The reason they don't sue is because McDonald's is the #1 fast food breakfast place in the country and this is basically free publicity for them because they know Taco Bell really isn't providing them any breakfast competition, so they are enjoying the notariety of there being a fake "war" between the two companies.

[Ron Obvious]

1. I haven't seen the commercials...

But as someone whose name is only marginally similar to Ronald McDonald and suffered for it, the people in those commercials have my sympathy. I hope they're well compensated -- they deserve a little something positive at least once for the raw deal life and their parents handed them.

[CherokeeDem]

2. I'm not a legal eagle by any means....

but I believe that as long as Ronald McDonald is their legal name.. McDonalds Corp can't do anything about it. My ex-husband and I had a business which used our last name in the company name and we received a letter from a national company using the same name telling us to cease and desist using the name. Our attorney sent a letter back with proof it was our name and that was the last we heard of it.

Personally... I think Taco Bell's ads are ingenious from a marketing standpoint.