Starbucks. Less Bucks, More Stars

• Published date: 25 August 2022
• Subject Matter: Intellectual Property, Patent, Trademark
• Law Firm: Gorodissky & Partners
• Author: Mr Vladimir Biriulin

Starbucks left Russia. It is their decision. However the shops and the registered trademarks remained.

The business was bought from Starbucks' Turkish franchisee by Russian entrepreneurs Pinsky and Kanokov. They could not think of anything better but copy Starbucks trademarks and file applications for slightly modified images:

The first coffee shop was opened on August 18, 2022 under a new name " Stars Coffee". Creativity is not their strong suit. Starbucks was a rendition of a mining town Starbos. There are many mining cities in Russia. They could name their coffee shop Kemstars (Kemerovo is a mining city in Siberia) or Kustars (Kuznetsky Mining) or the like but they did not do so. They simply borrowed half of the word and did not take the trouble to change much the images, same general impression, same stars.

The trademark applications were published as prescribed by the patent office rules. That does not mean that the applications will turn into registrations. Specifically, the publications are made for the purpose of possible opposition. The examiner most probably will reject those trademark applications but if an interested person files an "observation letter" calling examiner's attention to the existence of similar or identical marks this will expedite expected refusal of the applications.

Stars Coffee is not the only attempt to sponge on the established reputation of other business. None of the attempts were successful. The most talked of was Uncle Vanya imitating McDonalds. The trademark squatter filed a trademark application but quickly understood that he would not stand a chance to register it and withdrew the application. This however gave birth to...