McDonald’s has withdrawn from Russia, and now the Russians are supposed to eat their burgers at “Uncle Vanya”. The similarities in the logo are no coincidence.
The logo evokes associations that are most likely just as intended: a yellow letter on a red background reminiscent of a B, but also an upside-down, curved M – the world-famous McDonald’s trademark. Apparently, a company that wants to inherit the large fast-food chain wants to go onto the market in Russia with this logo.
After the Russian attack on Ukraine, McDonald’s announced its withdrawal from the country – albeit only because of protests. “Uncle Vanya”, as the new Russian company is called, now wants to fill the gap. The fast-food chain has already filed a trademark application using the logo just three days after announcing that McDonald’s would close its 850 stores in Russia.
Russia threatens western companies with expropriation
The letter that the brand logo shows is by no means – as it appears to Western recipients – a B, but a W in Cyrillic script: short for “Uncle Vanya”. “McDonald’s has announced that they are closing. Tomorrow there won’t be McDonald’s, but Uncle Vanya’s,” Duma spokesman Vyacheslav Volodin announced in the Washington Post last week. The aim is to preserve jobs and lower prices. The former Russian president and current deputy head of the Russian Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, made it clear: “We can make meatballs and rolls ourselves, which are of great quality, by the way.” And Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin promised start-up aid equivalent to almost four million euros for the new fast-food chain, which will only offer “100 percent Russian” products.
Russia had recently threatened to expropriate international companies that were suspending their business in the country. The Russian government is taking steps to bankrupt companies in Russia and then nationalize ownership, Medvedev said. A new production had to be set up “on the basis of the assets left behind by the panicked investors”.
McDonald’s loses patent rights in Russia
The Russian government has already revoked patent rights held by individuals or companies from “enemy countries”. Unauthorized uses are no longer tracked, the Washington Post reported. Despite the very similar logo, Uncle Vanja need not worry about legal problems due to possible trademark infringements.
McDonald’s had decided to withdraw from Russia because the company’s values were not compatible with the war of aggression against Ukraine. “One cannot ignore the needless human suffering that is happening in Ukraine,” he said in an email from CEO Chris Kempczinski to employees. The shutdown is necessary, even though McDonald’s has been in Russia for over 30 years and serves millions of customers there every day.
Swell: /// DPA
Source: Stern
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
