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Controversy - People Magazine

Although he and his partner, Bernard Shapiro, are vegetarians, Daniel Prather deadpans, "We're suffering a Big Mac attack." Seems that McDonald's has a beef with Shapiro, 39, and Prather, 34, the owner and operators of McDharma's, a popular veggie eatery in Santa Cruz, Calif. Their un-burger joint, which grossed over $320, 000 last year, counts the likes of Rae Dawn Chong and Kenny Loggins among its fans. On April 13, however, as Shapiro and Prather were serving up their meatless Brahma Burgers, Dharma Dogs and I'm Not Chicken Patties, they were served a court order by McDonald's. Miffed over the "Mc" in McDharma's name, the chain is suing for breach of agreement. "They're Mc-mad at us, " says Prather.

This isn't the first time these small fries have sparred with the giant. When the two former yoga teachers opened the restaurant in 1982, their idea was to pair convenience with healthy food, so they combined the "Mc" of fast-food fame with dharma, Sanskrit for "virtue." Seeing it more as a vice, McDonald's blocked the use of McDharma's as a legal trademark in 1984 and threatened suit in 1986. Prather and Shapiro settled out of court in February 1987, accepting an undisclosed sum from McDonald's ("It was enough, " says Shapiro, "for a couple of burgers, some fries and a shake") to change their name. The partners listed the beanery as Dharma's in the phone book and painted the international symbol for "forbidden" - a red circle with a diagonal slash - over the "Mc" on their sign. "It was just a joke, " says Shapiro.

McDonald's isn't laughing. According to its 1987 agreement with the two owners, "McDonald's is the exclusive owner of the 'Mc' mark for restaurant services." Adds John Onoda, McDonald's director of media relations: "McDharma's has breached the agreement.#&34; Prather and Shapiro, who must answer the complaint by May 3, disagree. They vow to defend themselves in court on grounds of freedom of speech. Just in case they lose, however, they're considering new names. "How about Dharma King?" suggests Shapiro. "Or Dharma-in-a-Box?"