Dumb Starbucks coffee was just a joke
Print Edition
It was a caffeine-charged Hollywood whodunit: Who created the “Dumb Starbucks” coffee shop that popped up and started serving free drinks from the corner of an otherwise uncelebrated California shopping center.
After several days of speculation, the news came on Monday: The shop was a Canadian comedian’s publicity stunt.
Nathan Fielder told a crowd he was pursuing the “American dream” — before acknowledging that he planned to use the bit on his Comedy Central show “Nathan For You.”
Soon after, Los Angeles County health inspectors shut it down for operating without a valid permit.
For much of the weekend, a line from the store wound alongside the parking lot and up the block, though descriptions of the coffee ranged from “horrible” to “bitter.”
Dumb Starbucks opened on Friday, and interest grew over the weekend with a boost from posts on Twitter and Facebook.
Once opened, Dumb Starbucks caught the attention of the real Starbucks.
“While we appreciate the humor, they cannot use our name, which is a protected trademark,” spokeswoman Laurel Harper said in an email.
She added that most trademark disputes are handled informally, suggesting the company might not need to take legal action.
At the front counter, a frequently asked questions sheet said the store was shielded by “parody law,” though some legal experts have disputed this.
Fielder the comedian said that he didn’t need Starbucks’ permission and he was glad they had not pursued a “case they know they can’t win.”
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