MANILA – Jollibee Foods Corp on Tuesday said it was "taking steps" to protect its trademark rights after a photo of a fast food outlet in China with a similar store design went viral on social media.

Filipino overseas worker Christopher Guzman first posted photos and videos of JoyRulBee in Guangxi, China last Saturday. His post has been viewed over 200,000 times as of late Tuesday.

JoyRulBee has been brought to the attention of Jollibee even before the post went viral, the Filipino fastfood giant's assistant vice president for Brand, Communications, PR and Digital Marketing Arline Adeva told ABS-CBN News.

“Our legal team has been taking the necessary steps in order to protect and uphold our company’s trademark rights as what is provided for under the law,” she said.

In his Facebook post, Guzman said: "Pati Jollibee kinopya, JoyRulBee, dito lang sa China ‘yan.. Kopyang kopya."

The store front also has a logo similar to Jollibee's popular bee mascot. Even the counters, display and the menu inside the restaurant looks like a local Jollibee outlet, except the texts are in Chinese.

Read the full statement of Jollibee Foods Corp:

The particular JoyRulBee infringing store in Guangxi, China has already been brought to the attention of Jollibee Foods Corporation even before the post went viral in social media. Our Legal team has been taking the necessary steps in order to protect and uphold our company’s trademark rights as what is provided for under the law.