Starbucks Corp. finds itself in a legal battle with the union representing its baristas, accusing the union of misusing its name and logos. This dispute has led to calls for a boycott against the coffee giant, triggered by union tweets expressing support for Palestine. The union, in turn, claims that Starbucks has falsely accused it of supporting terrorism as part of its ongoing anti-union campaign.
In its Iowa federal court complaint, Starbucks alleges that Workers United is unlawfully using the name “Starbucks Workers United” and has incorporated Starbucks’ trademarks without authorization into the union’s logos. Starbucks asserts that this has caused confusion among customers who may believe the coffee company endorses the statements made by the union. One such statement on X (formerly known as Twitter) expressed solidarity with Palestine following an attack by Hamas militants on Israel.
Starbucks argues that the similarity between the union’s marks and its own trademarks is likely to mislead customers, conveying a false affiliation, endorsement, or sponsorship with Starbucks. This confusion has already resulted in harm, including public backlash against Starbucks.
