Foodie Pundit

Starbucks sues union to control its name and logo

Starbucks is suing its own union over its name and iconic siren logo, trying to stop them from using the brand to organize.

By Foodie Pundit Newsroom - Published - Updated - Section: Coffee Cafes

Starbucks restaurant photograph

Key points

  • Starbucks is suing Workers United in Iowa federal court for copyright and trademark infringement over the use of the company logo and name.
  • The lawsuit effectively shifts the labor dispute from contract negotiations to a high-stakes battle over brand equity and consumer confusion.
  • If Starbucks wins, it could set a massive precedent allowing restaurant owners to block staff unions from using brand-related identities altogether.

This report is part of Foodie Pundit premium coverage. Foodie Pundit members read the full story. See membership.

Sources and methodology

Reported from the public datasets below.

All sources Foodie Pundit reports from

More from the Foodie Pundit Newsroom

Permalink