Dumb Starbucks now open!

[Regulator75]

A store labeled as "Dumb Starbucks," using the Starbucks corporate logo and bearing an almost identical look to an actual Starbucks, opened up in Los Feliz on Friday, according to employees.

http://www.scpr.org/news/2014/02/08/...-in-los-feliz/







Not sure if serious...

[gargamel]

If that's real, it's probably not a great idea for them to admit that the "parody" aspect of it is just a sham to steal Starbucks' trademark.

[Canada 02]

I want to start a hockey team named Dumb Vancouver Canucks, but that would be more redundant than parody

[WilsonFourTwo]

Dumb is the right branding here.

Starbucks sells overpriced coffee to earn profit.....these folks are gonna have to sell overpriced coffee to pay legal fees.

I just don't see how this is a good use of investment dollars.

[GreenLantern]

I thought maybe it was going to be a Starbucks that just used regular words or "dumbed down" words instead of these things I (a) can't pronounce (b)don't know what they mean and (c) feel like a total ###### bag even saying.

[JonDuke]

What's the over/under on days till it's shut down?

[missdpuck]

I'm not a lawyer (of course duh) but I had to do research on something like this. I'll bet they get them on the fact that the actual product is coffee, no matter what the owners argue.

Apparently you have to change the product a certain percentage or something.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by missdpuck

I'm not a lawyer (of course duh) but I had to do research on something like this. I'll bet they get them on the fact that the actual product is coffee, no matter what the owners argue.

Apparently you have to change the product a certain percentage or something.

My wife studied art law and she says parody only applies if you pass of burden of proof that the parody is significantly different enough not to be confused with the original, i.e. Andy Warhol's Campbell's Soup cans were altered enough to seem like a work of art (not to mention painted by hand, so could be considered "still life/objects" anyway). Andy was selling a painting, and not soup, and since they are selling coffee, they are capitalizing on the Starbucks' name and logo to make a profit that should otherwise go to the Starbucks company. This is way too similar, but it would have to be proven in a court of law obviously. Not to mention the trademark infringement of their logo which was unaltered. Basically it needs to seem like the original but must also convey it is definitively NOT the original, otherwise it is considered a "poor parody" and is subject to infringement of trademark protection. Apparently, intent of the infringer to pawn off their product as the other company's is a major stumbling block, as they admit as much in their little FAQ.

These guys are toast.

[CaptainCrunch]

Hopefully their coffee is indeed delicious as opposed to that burnt tasting mess that Starbucks serves.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Hopefully their coffee is indeed delicious as opposed to that burnt tasting mess that Starbucks serves.

That's called a dark roast Captain.

[CaptainCrunch]

Its called, these guys never clean out their coffee dispensers.

Starbucks has some of the worst generic coffee that I've ever tasted.

I'd love to find a place that serves black press coffee by the way or naval coffee.

[psicodude]

The small detail they left out when using Weird Al as an example - Weird Al always receives permission from the Original artist first. True, he doesn't legally have to, but it sure helps him avoid court a lot.

[missdpuck]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Its called, these guys never clean out their coffee dispensers.

Starbucks has some of the worst generic coffee that I've ever tasted.

I'd love to find a place that serves black press coffee by the way or naval coffee.

Well Cap, if you're ever in West Palm Beach, go to habitat gallery. Best FP coffee ever.

And they sell actual art !

[Temporary_User]

Wow it looks like that place may actually exist. Here is a CBS news article with a video:
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/...-neighborhood/

As most have pointed out there is no way this is actually legal. It makes me wonder who the owner is. I can't fathom someone actually being dumb enough, but wealthy enough, to open this and believe it is legal under parody law.

I'm assuming it is an old Starbucks franchisee that thought if he just opened a Starbucks he would do well. Well he didn't and now is trying to take it out on Starbucks for his failure. He is taking all of the old Starbucks branded things he had to buy (like that table umbrella) and adding "Dumb" in front cheaply.

The video I linked to states that right now everything is free right now and horrible tasting. The free is key because if they charged anything it would just go to Starbucks after the lawsuit.

[station]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Its called, these guys never clean out their coffee dispensers.

Starbucks has some of the worst generic coffee that I've ever tasted.

I'd love to find a place that serves black press coffee by the way or naval coffee.

Fratello Coffee at The Calgary Famer's Market has incredible individually made pour-over coffee with select roasts. Definitely worth checking out - actually I'm drinking one right now!

[Calgary14]

I can't believe that's legal but good for them for making a statement

[Yamer]

I give them 10 days.

[flamesfan6]

Originally Posted by Calgary14

I can't believe that's legal but good for them for making a statement

how are they making a statement? all they are trying to do is get business by using an already established brand .. also it's not legal

[missdpuck]

Stupid Starbucks would sound better , imo

[DuffMan]

Why didn't they get rid of the dumb Italian sizes and just go with large, medium and small.