Starbung, the local coffee cart in Bangkok’s Rattanakosin district that appropriated Starbucks branding, has backed off from a legal fight with the American coffee giant, which filed a lawsuit for using its logo’s likeness in September.
Damrong Maslae, the cart’s 43-year-old barista, has reportedly changed his logo from “Starbung Coffee” to “Stylebung Tea-Coffee” with a slight change of the color scheme. His new logo has been passed around social networks for two weeks, with many admiring the street vendor for his sneaky and free PR strategy.
Damrong and his brother failed to show up for trial yesterday at the Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court for the arrest request by Starbucks for copyright dispute.
But Damrong’s lawyer was there to represent him and presented a photograph of the new Stylebung logo to the court. The photo, taken the day before the trial, seems to have protected Damrong and his brother from prison, as the court declined to arrest the defendants and will recall them for reconciliation between the two parties on Nov. 18.
However, the additional lawsuit Starbucks filed for violating Articles 109 and 110 of the Thai Trademark Act B.E.2534, which would require the coffee stall to pay damages of THB300,000 with 7.5% interest is still in play. The case is set to go on court on Feb. 10, 2014, Nation Channel reported.
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