Starbucks, a global coffeehouse chain, was founded in 1971 in Seattle, Washington, by three partners who shared a passion for high-quality coffee: Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, and Gordon Bowker. The company's journey began as a single store, and over the decades, it has grown into one of the world's most recognizable and influential coffee brands. Starbucks registered its first trademark on April 4, 1985. The trademark was for the Starbucks logo, which features a stylized image of a twin-tailed mermaid or siren, as well as the word "Starbucks." Starbucks' iconic green and white logo, featuring a twin-tailed mermaid or siren, has become synonymous with its commitment to premium coffee and a welcoming café experience.
Starbucks demonstrates a proactive approach to monitoring and enforcing its trademarks. In 2006, Starbucks engaged in a legal battle with a Chinese company named "Shanghai Xingbake Coffee Shop Co., Ltd.," which translates to "Star Box Coffee." The dispute arose over the similarity in the Chinese translation of the name "Starbucks" (Xingbake) and the use of a logo resembling Starbucks' iconic logo. The Chinese company operated coffee shops with a similar look and feel to Starbucks stores The case resulted in a settlement, with Star Box agreeing to change its name and logo. In 2007, Starbucks faced a trademark dispute with a small Malaysian coffee shop called "Sambucks Coffee." The Malaysian café, located in Penang, used a name and logo reminiscent of Starbucks. Starbucks took legal action against Sambucks Coffee, claiming trademark infringement and potential confusion among consumers.
