An Australian lawyer who claims he is of Scottish-Jewish descent, has failed in a bid to register the trademark "McKosher".

Mark Glaser has an office based in the New South Wales town of Maclean, which prides itself in being the Scottish capital of Australia and even boasts tartan telegraph poles.

He has been involved in a trademark fight with fast-food operator McDonald's.

According to media reports, he is planning to open "a Scottish and Jewish restaurant bearing the name McKosher".

But his application was rejected by the Australian Trademarks Office, which noted that there was a likelihood of "contextual confusion" with the fast food chain.

At the application hearing, the tradesmarks office was told that rabbis in Jerusalem were in negotiations with McDonald's headquarters over the "McKosher" name.

The rabbis want the chain to use it at its kosher-certified branches in the city to avoid confusion over those that are not kosher.