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No one else puts a burger together quite like McDonald's - or, at least, that's what McDonald's thinks. The company has put in a patent application (WO2006068865) in Europe and the US that tries to stake the company's exclusive claim to their sandwich preparation methods.
A spokesman for the UK patent office said that, while they may be able to claim their "assembly tool" as unique, neither they nor anyone else can gain the exclusive rights to making a sandwich.
Filed Under: Business, Did you know?, Chefs & Restaurants, Fast Food, Restaurants
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11-25-2006 @9:27PM Chris Childs said... Haha, that's terrible. Sounds just as bad as when a brand around here was trying to get the court to understand that a burrito was the exact same thing as a sushi roll. Point is, people are dumb :) Oh well, haha. I'd like to see how this pans out.
http://www.chrisbrownpictures.info
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11-26-2006 @7:40AM Delon said... Nice try Mc Donald's, a patent on sandwiches. I love Mc Donald's but they have to lose this one I mean what's next a patent on water?
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11-26-2006 @10:49AM MIke said... No, McDonald's will not try to put a patent on water. They will require you to breathe their patented AIR through air tanks strapped on your back while in their resraurants, using a nasal cannula to deliver their patented McDonalds air.
Just give them time, and they may require the use of a patented McDonald's colostomy bag and a patented McDonald's catheter to poop and pee in their restaurants.
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11-27-2006 @5:29PM Tatoosh said... What, a couple of lawyers decide to show a little audacity to see what happens and we go ballistic? I mean, they probably had Porsche payments to keep up.
And the head cheese at McDonalds likely thought, "Why not? If they succeed, what a coup!"
I can't wait until they patent sliced pickles, shredded lettuce and ketchup dollops. Or at least try to.
That toasting the bun while the meat cooks. How novel! Does that mean I have to send them a nickel everytime I do that at home now? Do I have to pay them for the last twenty or thirty years I've been doing that?
I think I'm going to patent spreading peanut butter on bread. Please send your nickels in the form of a money order or cashiers check.
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12-02-2006 @12:38PM phil said... Based on their past history, the USPTO will most likely grant this patent. Since 1979/1980, they have been granting patents on software, which is actually a form of mathematics. Their charter says that natural laws (of which mathematics is considered a part for USPTO purposes) cannot be patented, but since they have been happily ignoring that fact for the past 26 years, I'm sure they'll have no problem granting this one.
If U think I'm just blowing smoke, take a look at this link:
http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220040161257%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20040161257&RS=DN/20040161257
Take a look at claim number nine; obviously, they don't even take the time to read the cover page of the patent application. No doubt they'll see 'McDonald's' on the 'Inventors' line and stop reading.
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11-28-2006 @5:38PM Zee said... I am going to boycott McDoanlds for their stupid patent idea.
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11-29-2006 @2:45PM margie said... McDonalds isnt that good to begin with? Why try to patent crap!
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11-29-2006 @3:45PM madge said... Will they be getting a patent for the "round" shape, too? I mean: the bun, the burger, the pickles, the tomatoes are ALL round. Gosh - so are the cups, lids and straws. They'll be making a fortune. Time to invest.
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11-29-2006 @3:56PM Skip Barrett said... Maybe their dry as a bone steamed hamburgers should be what they try to patent ..
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11-29-2006 @3:42PM MICHAEL said... I don't eat there much anyhow but when I do their sandwiches taste like they are a day old. Maybe they can patent their reheated sandwich.
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11-29-2006 @3:05PM Rick said... Do I still have time to patent the process of relieving myself standing upright using only one hand along without spraying on the toilet seat? Bonus patent for proper technique upon finish to put lid down for my female guests.
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11-29-2006 @3:13PM Regena Brooks said... I agree with Margie! It's all crap!
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11-29-2006 @5:10PM Tony said... I still wanna know what is REALLY in Chicken McNuggets... that's not chicken. That's what they should be patenting...the "chickens" that yield that OH SO FLAVORFUL delight that drove us nuts for years with such questions as "how come this chicken tastes weird?" or "how come I only get ONE sauce for these you stingy bastards!!??" or the ever famous "i wonder why there are only two or three shapes that these nuggets come in?". Maybe I don't wanna know anymore. BRB I have to hurl now.
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11-29-2006 @5:11PM Tony said... NO way Rick you're too late. I already submitted a patent on bathroom technique and etiquette. Pay up man...
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11-29-2006 @3:13PM Kryssi said... Do these holier-than-thou bullies honestly believe they're THAT good? Just because they get a lot of business doesn't mean their products are GOOD. People only eat that sh!t because it's cheap and convenient. And those who dare believe it's actually delicious are merely addicted to the chemicals that McD's pumps through their food. Clever. Evil, but clever.
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11-29-2006 @3:13PM Bobbie said... Are they going to patent the size the burgers "sandwiches" used to be or the dime size patties that they are now using.
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11-29-2006 @4:22PM Derf said... I haven't been inside a McDonalds since 1982. does that qualify as a boycott?
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11-29-2006 @4:25PM Lee said... That sounds like it's akin to Harley Davidson applying for a patent on the sound their machines make, or Dona;d Trump trying to copy-right the phrase "you're fired"
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11-29-2006 @5:33PM Bruce said... Are they going to get a patent on making a burger that doesn't look anything like the pictures in their ads, too? Or a patent on piling the onions, pickles, etc. in one spot on the bun? Or letting the meat hang off one side of the bun? There are a lot of options to consider here.
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11-29-2006 @3:25PM Ben said... Did anyone find a link to the patent application? I searched all over I would love to read the full filing
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