Supermac's April Fools Joke Lands Them In Trouble

Social media platforms shut down due to legal action over Supermac’s April Fools joke!

Supermac’s social media platforms have been deactivated by Meta following a trademark dispute with the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). The controversy arose after Supermac’s, a fast-food chain based in Galway, posted an April Fools joke on Instagram and Facebook, humorously renaming Croke Park to “Supermac’s Croke Park.” This jest prompted legal action from the GAA, resulting in the suspension of Supermac’s accounts.

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Pat McDonagh Appalled by GAA’s Legal Action Over Supermac’s April Fools Joke

Pat McDonagh, the owner of Supermac’s and a notable supporter of Galway GAA, expressed disappointment over the situation and requested an immediate reactivation of their social media accounts. This incident isn’t the first time Supermac’s has participated in April Fools pranks, having previously joked about various scenarios, including snack boxes on Aer Lingus flights and opening a branch in Copperface Jacks.

The GAA, through legal representation, asserted that the use of “Croke Park” in a commercial context, even in jest, infringes upon their registered trademark. The statement emphasised that such usage constitutes trademark infringement under the Trade Mark Act of 1996.

Supermac’s officials are currently in discussions with Meta to resolve the issue and restore their online presence. Despite the dispute, Pat McDonagh downplayed the incident, calling it a “storm in a teacup” and expressing surprise at the swift legal action taken by the GAA’s headquarters. The timing of the prank, released on April 1st, was intended to signal its nature as a joke, but it nonetheless sparked the trademark dispute and subsequent social media account deactivation.