Now a collector’s item. Picture: JA Vapes via Eater.com
STARBUCKS has won more than half a million dollars in damages in a court battle over a bong designed to look like a Starbucks Frappuccino cup.
Food website Eater reports the copyright and trademark infringement lawsuit was filed in June against James Landgraf, the US artist who designed the bongs, dubbed the “Dabuccino”, and the online store Hitman Glass.
The bongs in the Dabuccino line sold for between $US200 ($260) and $US8000 ($10,420), according to Eater.
Starbucks argued the defendants “wilfully intended to create an association with the Starbucks Marks and to capitalise upon the success and popularity of the Starbucks Marks to sell [their] products”, resulting in “irreparable injury and damage to Starbucks Corp’s business, reputation, and goodwill”.
The coffee chain demanded the artist and Hitman Glass turn over all profits from the bongs and pay damages and legal fees.
After Mr Landgraf failed to appear in court, the judge ruled in Starbucks favour by default, ordering him to pay $US410,580 ($534,780) in damages.
In a statement, a Starbucks spokesman said: “We are pleased with the court’s decision. Starbucks has made significant investments to develop our brand and intellectual property over the past 45 years. We have an obligation to protect our intellectual property from infringement in order to retain our exclusive rights to it.”
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