For more than 15 years, two rival fried chicken chains in South London have been locked in a fierce legal dispute over trademark infringement.
The case, involving the well-known Morley’s and its competitor Metro’s, has now taken an unexpected turn, with accusations that a judge unfairly labeled customers as “intoxicated morons in a hurry.”
The Core of the Dispute
At the heart of the legal battle is Morley’s claim that Metro’s has copied its branding, including its distinctive red-and-white signage and its trademarked slogan, “MMM… it tastes better.”
In June 2024, Judge Melissa Clarke ruled in favor of Morley’s, determining that Metro’s similar signage and the tagline “…It’s the real taste” could confuse customers—especially those who are tired, hungry, or intoxicated after a late night out in London.
Metro’s owner, Kunalingham Kunatheeswaran, and his franchisees are now appealing the ruling, arguing that Judge Clarke’s reasoning was flawed.
They claim she unfairly based her decision on a specific subset of customers—namely, those seeking late-night food after drinking—rather than the average, reasonably attentive consumer.
The “Moron in a Hurry” Argument
During the appeal, Metro’s legal team, led by barrister Simon Malynicz KC, challenged the judge’s decision, claiming she effectively classified customers as “drunk, tired, and hungry morons in a hurry.”
In trademark law, this phrase is often used to describe consumers who might be easily misled, but courts are typically expected to consider a broader spectrum of consumers when assessing potential brand confusion.
Malynicz argued that the judge focused too much on the testimony of Morley’s representatives regarding their late-night clientele.
He insisted that any decision about trademark infringement should be based on the perception of a reasonable, everyday customer—not just those who might be grabbing fried chicken after a night out.
The History of Morley’s and Its Battle with Copycats
Morley’s, founded in 1985 in South London’s Sri Lankan community, has grown into a beloved fast-food institution.
The brand, inspired by KFC, has built a loyal following, with around 100 outlets across the UK.
Over the years, Morley’s has become a cultural staple, even making appearances in British rap music, with artists like Stormzy and Krept referencing the chain in their lyrics and music videos.
According to Shan Selvendran, son of Morley’s founder Kannalingham Selvendran, the brand has faced a constant struggle with imitators.
The legal dispute with Metro’s dates back to 2010, when Kunatheeswaran first attempted to launch a restaurant called “Mowley’s,” closely resembling Morley’s branding.
The Final Ruling and Ongoing Appeal
Judge Clarke’s ruling in favor of Morley’s found that Metro’s had gone beyond the limits set by a previous 2018 settlement agreement, which allowed them to use red signage but required a blue border to differentiate it.
She ruled that Metro’s had further infringed Morley’s trademark by using the “Triple M” slogan and failing to adhere to the agreed-upon branding distinctions.
As a result, the court granted an injunction against Metro’s, ordering them to stop using the infringing signs and slogans.
However, Kunatheeswaran and his franchisees are now appealing this ruling, with the case currently awaiting a final decision from Lord Justice Newey, Lord Justice Arnold, and Lady Justice Falk in the UK Appeal Court.
What’s Next?
The ongoing legal battle highlights the challenges of protecting a brand in the fast-food industry, especially in a market as competitive as South London’s fried chicken scene.
While Morley’s fights to maintain its identity, Metro’s continues to argue that the courts have taken an unfair approach in their judgment.
With the appeal still under review, it remains to be seen whether Metro’s will be forced to make further branding changes or if the court will overturn the previous ruling.
For now, both chicken chains continue to serve their loyal customers—whether they’re late-night revellers or simply in the mood for some crispy fried goodness.