Fast food giant McDonald's wins court order preventing 'call to arms' social media use against it
An Australian state judge has ordered a group of protesters not to use social media as "a call to arms" to cause damage and loss to burger giant McDonald's.
The injunction prevents types of social media use against the firm
The protesters oppose the opening of an outlet in Tecoma in the Dandenong Ranges. Supreme Court Justice Emilios Kyrou has issued a court order preventing them trespassing on the property and blockading trucks.
The order was given in an interim injunction yesterday after the court heard an urgent application from McDonald's.
The order does not prevent the blanket use of social media, but prohibits the protesters using Twitter or Facebook as "a call to arms" to cause damage and loss to McDonald's.
The action, raised by McDonalds, alleges the protesters are “wrongly interfering with McDonald's use and enjoyment of the McDonald's Land”.
An affidavit lodged as part of the proceedings from security guard Anthony Molesi reportedly claimed that McDonald’s was using Facebook to identify protesters so it could take them to court.
The fast food giant is claiming halted construction costs of $13,000 a week. McDonald’s Victorian development manager Ken Pryor said on site security guards are costing the company $55,600 a week, an estimated $10,000 in sales for each day it is not open beyond its scheduled November 2 opening, and lost daily cash flow of between $3000-$4000.
Spokesman for “No Maccas in Tecoma”, group spokesman, Garry Muratore, compared the action to the infamous ‘McLibel’ trial in the UK, in which the fast food group was awarded £40,000 in damages against campaigners, after expending in excess of £10 million on legal costs.