Starbucks vs ‘Starbung,’ Starbucks Sues Bangkok Vendor Over Logo
Starbucks is suing a coffee vendor in Bangkok for using a logo curiously similar to the coffee giant’s.
Starbung — owned by 43-year-old Damrong Maslae — employs a green-and-white insignia featuring stars and a moon with a smiling figure at the center. Starbucks filed a cease-and-desist letter on Oct 17th last year, requesting the vendor to stop usage of the logo. Maslae and his brother ignored the warning and proceeded to display their Starbung logo on shirts, stickers and wrappers.
In turn, the US firm is suing the brothers for 300,000 baht (~ US $9,600), in addition to a 7.5% annual interest and monthly installments of 30,000 baht until the pair drop their Starbung emblem. Starbucks insisted that the similarity between the two logos may confuse customers into thinking they are purchasing Starbucks coffee when it’s in fact Starbung.
Maslae, a father of six, informed the Guardian that his logo took no inspiration from Starbuck’s but was influenced by Islam, his religion. The Bangkok-based street vendor responded to Starbuck’s second request by offering to sell Starbung to the coffee chain for 3 million baht (~US $100,000).
H/T The Guardian, Bangkok Post/ PicThx Starbucks, ladymeawne
