mcdonald's sues critic over a bad review... - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

phredgreen · 05-31-2003, 01:27 PM

Quote:

<i>as seen here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2951486.stm</i>

<b>McDonald's sues 'slow food' critic</b>

McDonald's has labelled as "defamatory and offensive" an influential Italian food critic, who poured scorn on the quality of the fast-food giant's cuisine.
The corporation has sued Edoardo Raspelli, a critic and commentator for the Italian newspaper La Stampa, after he compared its burgers to rubber and its fries to cardboard, in an article last year.

McDonald's is seeking undisclosed damages, possibly as much as the 21m euros (£15m; $25m) it spent on advertising in Italy last year.

Mr Raspelli has refused to back down, telling La Stampa earlier this week that he found fast food "repellent".

"I defamed hamburgers... but I have not insulted anyone," he said.

Fast and slow

The case has aroused enormous interest in Italy, where a powerful "slow-food" movement has emerged in recent years, dedicated to preserving a respect for traditional culinary values.

Mr Raspelli said he had received hundreds of e-mails of support.

McDonald's is, however, hugely popular in the country, feeding 600,000 Italians each day in its 300 local restaurants.

The chain has made huge efforts to persuade customers of the quality of its offerings, and uses many local products.

The court case is proceeding slowly - the judge this week asked Mr Raspelli and McDonald's to seek ways to mend their differences.

"We trust this matter can be resolved out of court and in an amicable way," spokesman Mike Love said.

so at what point did criticism become illegal? at what point are the thought police going to start knocking on our doors because we tell our friends not to visit a particular place that we don't care for? it's too much.

The_Dude · 05-31-2003, 02:31 PM

free speech?

05-31-2003, 05:07 PM

Maybe they're just trying to make back what they lost in the hot coffee incident.

It would be a bad, bad precedent, at any rate.

Edit for brain-fart grammar.

gov135 · 05-31-2003, 05:29 PM

Looks like a scare tactic to get what they want. Slap a big lawsuit on the critic and his publication, but you are willing to "settle" for a public retraction.

DEI37 · 05-31-2003, 05:55 PM

How stupid. I mean, if I'm going to go "fast food," I don't go to McDonald's. Their food sucks...it's true. I go to Culver's, or something like that. Sounds like they're just trying to be greedy.

MSD · 05-31-2003, 10:10 PM

AS they would say on Fark, "Free Speech Surrenders"

BBtB · 05-31-2003, 11:35 PM

Hope he has a good lawyer. Dosn't matter how stupid something is they got some expensive ass lawyers. I hope he fights it and counter sues for defamation of charector and wins.

miked10270 · 06-01-2003, 01:35 AM

I'm with Raspelli -surely it's common knowledge that the most healthy and nutritious part of any MacDonald's meal is actually the carton!

Mike.

4thTimeLucky · 06-01-2003, 06:11 AM

Does McLibel mean nothing to them?

Frowning Budah · 06-01-2003, 08:04 AM

As long as the article was clearly labled as an opinion I don't think they have any case. Course I don't know nothing abt Italian Law.

KeyserSoze · 06-01-2003, 08:28 AM

You sue...I sue...........we all sue..........lets just sue EVERYONE!

Daval · 06-02-2003, 06:06 AM

This is hillarious. I hope McDonalds gets slapped down HARD in court - if it makes it that far.

gibber71 · 06-02-2003, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by KeyserSoze
You sue...I sue...........we all sue..........lets just sue EVERYONE!

And maybe that teacher from the other thread who is suing because of some out of control kid is driving her nuts,can have a cashier at McDink's call her a name when she's super sizing and she can sue too.

Prophecy · 06-02-2003, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Frowning Budah
As long as the article was clearly labled as an opinion I don't think they have any case. Course I don't know nothing abt Italian Law.

Like Frowing Budah said, its Italian law and their system is different from ours. I hope however that Mickey D loses the case. I think its all going to come down to how he stated things in his article, I'd love to read how he worded things.

snowace56 · 06-02-2003, 10:03 AM

I agree with the critic. and in other countries its worse, cause the FDA doesn't have control in other countries. I can't imagine a cheese grease burger any worse than it already is.

05-31-2003, 02:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
The_Dude The GrandDaddy of them all! Location: Austin, TX	free speech? __________________ "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Darrel K Royal

05-31-2003, 05:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
DEI37 Go faster! Location: Wisconsin	How stupid. I mean, if I'm going to go "fast food," I don't go to McDonald's. Their food sucks...it's true. I go to Culver's, or something like that. Sounds like they're just trying to be greedy. __________________ Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised.

05-31-2003, 11:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
BBtB ClerkMan! Location: Tulsa, Ok.	Hope he has a good lawyer. Dosn't matter how stupid something is they got some expensive ass lawyers. I hope he fights it and counter sues for defamation of charector and wins. __________________ Meridae'n once played "death" at a game of chess that lasted for over two years. He finally beat death in a best 34 out of 67 match. At that time he could ask for any one thing and he could wish for the hope of all mankind... he looked death right in the eye and said ... "I would like about three fiddy"

06-01-2003, 06:11 AM	#9 (permalink)
4thTimeLucky Psycho Location: 4th has left the building - goodbye folks	Does McLibel mean nothing to them? __________________ I've been 4thTimeLucky, you've been great. Goodnight and God bless!

06-01-2003, 08:28 AM	#11 (permalink)
KeyserSoze Psycho Location: Lost Angeles	You sue...I sue...........we all sue..........lets just sue EVERYONE! __________________ THERE IS NO KEYSER SOZE!!

05-31-2003, 05:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
Big Julie Guest	Maybe they're just trying to make back what they lost in the hot coffee incident. It would be a bad, bad precedent, at any rate. Edit for brain-fart grammar.

05-31-2003, 05:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
gov135 Junkie Location: Midwest	Looks like a scare tactic to get what they want. Slap a big lawsuit on the critic and his publication, but you are willing to "settle" for a public retraction.

05-31-2003, 10:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
MSD The sky calls to us ... Super Moderator Location: CT	AS they would say on Fark, "Free Speech Surrenders"

06-01-2003, 01:35 AM	#8 (permalink)
miked10270 Banned Location: Scotland	I'm with Raspelli -surely it's common knowledge that the most healthy and nutritious part of any MacDonald's meal is actually the carton! Mike.

06-01-2003, 08:04 AM	#10 (permalink)
Frowning Budah Slave of Fear	As long as the article was clearly labled as an opinion I don't think they have any case. Course I don't know nothing abt Italian Law.

06-02-2003, 06:06 AM	#12 (permalink)
Daval Junkie Location: The True North Strong and Free!	This is hillarious. I hope McDonalds gets slapped down HARD in court - if it makes it that far. __________________ "It is impossible to obtain a conviction for sodomy from an English jury. Half of them don't believe that it can physically be done, and the other half are doing it." Winston Churchill

06-02-2003, 10:03 AM	#15 (permalink)
snowace56 Loser Location: Bakersfield...The rest stop town	I agree with the critic. and in other countries its worse, cause the FDA doesn't have control in other countries. I can't imagine a cheese grease burger any worse than it already is.