Worldwide coffee giant, Starbucks have sued a local Bangkok street vendor, after claiming his logo mimicked their well known round logo and dark green background with a human figure inside the circle.
Starbucks claimed they obtained an injunction under against the vendor in September preventing him from using the logo. When he did not do so, they filed a petition with the Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court, seeking the arrest of trader and his younger brother, in addition to financial compensation
There is of course a person behind this story, that Starbucks have failed to see, or ignored to think about. They don’t see the man they were suing as Bung (hence the name Starbung) – a father of six children struggling with overdue school payments, who never intended to deceive or cause harm. He explains he chose the color green as he is a Muslim.
Instead, they are demanding that he pay them 300,000 baht (approximately 9,580 USD or 6000 GBP as at November 2013 conversion rates) and also monthly payments of 30,000 baht plus legal fees.
Bangkok trademark lawyer, Nunnapat Homchuen explains, “the piracy of major brands is often a big issue and proceedings can usually be bought in both the criminal and civil courts. It is however unusual seeing a street vendor be sued”.
The hearing was due to begin on Monday, but the brothers failed to show. They have now been ordered by the Court to attend on 18 November.
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Flickr photo credit: Cherrysweetdeal
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