In this Aug. 19 , 2004 file photo , commuters stand near a McDonald 's restaurant in Marathon , Greece . ( Photo : AP ) A coalition of Italian consumer groups , with backing from the American Service Employees International Union , said Tuesday that it has filed an antitrust complaint with the European Commission against McDonald 's ( MCD ) , alleging that the hamburger giant has used its dominant position in the market to gouge conflict.attack.na consumers and its franchisees . In the complaint , the consumer groups ( Codacons , Movimento Difesa del Cittadino and Cittadinanzattiva ) allege that McDonald 's is violating European Union rules by abusing its position as a landlord by charging rents to franchisees with prices up to 10 times above market rates . The group says McDonald 's has set 20-year franchise contracts followed by one- to two - year non - competitive clauses that limit the ability of franchisees to switch to other brands .