Starbucks Vs. Black Bear: Court Case

Jim and Annie Clark own the small, family owned coffee bean roastery Black Bear Micro Roastery. They developed a signature specialty blend they named “Charbucks.” Starbucks claimed that the name of Black Bear’s newest blend infringed on their trademark. Black Bear was told they must change the product’s name and have it removed from store shelves Starbucks is a multi-billion dollar company. As a result, they are extremely protective of their brand and trademarks. Black Bear used its own logo and branding. The only similarity was the comparable sounding name. The Clarks decided rather than going through an expensive court case, they would attempt to settle outside of court. Negotiations eventually failed and Starbucks sued Black Bear. I agree

The court initially ordered the two sides to mediation, but eventually, that failed. The original mediation was covered by Black Bear’s insurance. When mediation failed, a spokesperson informed Black Bear that Starbucks would be amending their complaint and as such the case would no longer be covered by insurance. This would bring hefty attorney and court fees to Black Bear. It could also mean the potential shutdown of the company should they lose the case with no support from insurance. Starbucks is a multi-billion dollar industry with all the resources that come along with that. Starbucks has access to some of the best lawyers in the country. A small family owned and operated business like Black Bear does not have access to those resources. Starbucks likely expected Black Bear to give into their demands as soon as they heard about the case potentially going to court. It is unethical to pursue this litigation strategy and attempt to force your opponents into giving into your demands.

Starbucks claims “We’ve always believed that businesses can and should have a positive impact on the communities they serve.” This aggressive attack on a small business simply attempting to add another coffee to their merchandise, suggests otherwise. Most people would agree that small businesses are a vital part of any community. If Starbucks can’t support and encourage a family owned business attempting to further their company, then they clearly don’t understand what it means to make a positive impact in a