and other countries as the US? There was the slander lawsuit in the UK brought by McDonalds against some food activist pressure group. On the surface it sounded stupid, took forever, but in the end it proved to be a wise business choice for McDonalds. IIRC McDonalds won some small victory from it but it was a brilliant first strike to stop any future pressure groups. On the other hand even McDonalds loses a few. I think it was the McDonalds in downtown Shanghai, the Chinese Govt decided they wanted the property and booted McD out even thought McD had a lease on it. McD tried to sue in Chinese court, which surely qualifies as a stupid lawsuit in China. Jack peacock