(Molly Bruns, Headline USA) As American fast food chains rush to virtue signal by withdrawing from Russia, the Russians have started creating knock-off chains to fill the gap, WND reported.
“Uncle Vanya” is a new Russian restaurant with a logo similar in color and shape to McDonalds, but instead of the classic arches, it is now a letter “B” and “Uncle Vanya” spelled out beneath it.
Trademark squatting has begun in Russia.
On March 12th, a trademark application was filed for the McDonald’s logo with the words “Uncle Vanya.”
The Russian State Duma had earlier suggested that Russia would replace all McDonald’s with “Uncle Vanya’s.”
h/t @Oh_89 #McDonalds pic.twitter.com/JlUfkLK67J
— Josh Gerben (@JoshGerben) March 16, 2022
The letter “B” in the Cyrillic alphabet has a similar pronunciation to “V” in English.
The “application appeared online after Russian officials indicated they remove patent protections for companies linked to countries deemed hostile to Russia—a response to crippling international sanctions and a mass exodus of Western companies in response to the Ukraine invasion.”
McDonald’s is one of many major chains to shut down operations in Russia, including Starbucks, Papa John’s, KFC and Burger King.
Following the news of the McDonald’s closure, Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of Russia’s State Duma, said Russian restaurants must start taking over the international chain.
“They announced they are closing. Well, OK, close. But tomorrow in those locations we should have not McDonald’s, but Uncle Vanya’s,” Volodin said.
“Jobs must be preserved and prices reduced.”
There are some questioning whether or not businesses such as McDonald’s will return to Russia, or if they will be able to if Russian chains take over.
