Supermac's and McDonald's have been embroiled in a long running legal battle over the right to use brand terms including "Mac".
An Irish fast food chain locked in a long running dispute with McDonald's has been told it can register its name and logo in the UK.
The UK's Intellectual Property Office ruled the average consumer would not make a link between Galway-based Supermac's logo and name and McDonald's existing trademarks including Big Mac and McCafé.
Supermac's was founded by Galway businessman Pat McDonagh in 1978 and is now the largest Irish-owned fast food restaurant firm in the Republic of Ireland.
The two chains have been embroiled in a long running legal battle over the right to use brand terms including "Mac".
The UKIPO said there were significant visual, aural and conceptual differences between the Supermac's and McDonalds marks, which were "sufficient for a consumer not to directly confuse the marks".
According to Irish broadcaster RTÉ News, it further said that "no link will be made by the consumer" in relation the Mc/Mac elements of the branding.
Speaking to RTÉ McDonagh said: "We've never had their scale or resources, but we've always believed every business deserves the same protection under the law, regardless of its size."
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