Can you please give your opinion about the fast food argument?

Question

Suppose I go to a leading fast food restaurant, like Mcdonald's. Now, being the wise scientist, I build a machine and connect it to a computer. After taking a few bites on a very big Big Mac, I put a sample in the machine. Runnning after a few tests, I am able to deficer the exact ingredients contained in the "DNA" sample. Now, the machine has a special "ingredient". It can use a reverse process, and tell me exactly how the ingredients come together to make a Big Mac. Now, the question is: is it legal to do this? Why? If Mcdonald's is a registered trademark, are the chickens also specially "trademarked"? I will appreciate your answers! Thanks!

Infinite Academic

Answer 1

Sure, i think it would be legal if you personally went and did this. but if you figured out their recipe and YOU started selling it.... that's where you'd get in trouble.

Answer 2

i thought Carl's Jr had a knockoff of the big mac. the special sauce is thousand island dressing.

Answer 3

Why would you want to, anyway. Eat some salad - it's better for you.

Answer 4

nothing in a big mack is copyrighted so as long as you don't call it a big mack whats the problem.

Answer 5

Get laid.

Answer 6

McDonald's is a registered trademark for the exact same reason Target, Macy's, General Motors, Boeing, and every other company is...so no one else can legally use their name.

The exact secret recipe is just that, a secret, like the secret recipe for coke and KFC.  It's not trademarked, but is the property of that company. If you're able to steal the recipe, that's theft. If you're able to somehow reproduce the recipe on your own, that's luck.

BTW- the sauce is not thousand island. You can get pretty close by mixing mayo, relish and some french dressing (not too much), and a few drops of onion juice.

Answer 7

I dont know if its legal or not. But it sounds cool.

Answer 8

Since when has the ingredients of a Big Mac considered secret?  At one time, they tried to call the sauce "secret sauce" but Jack-In-The-Box threatened to sue over trademarks and McD's changed it back to "special sauce".

What's with some McD's using 1000 Island dressing and others using that white "Special Sauce" on their Big Macs?