NEW YORK CITY (CNN)-

Starbucks to Dumb Starbucks: You can’t use our trademark

The real Starbucks isn’t happy with the parody coffee shop calling itself Dumb Starbucks that’s popped up in Los Angeles, and wants the faux baristas to drop the act.

“We appreciate the humor but they can’t use our name,” Starbucks spokesman Jim Olson told CNNMoney. “It’s a protected trademark. It’s our trademark.”

The shop called Dumb Starbucks opened its doors this weekend in L.A. and the baristas gave away free coffee until they ran out, according to news reports. Located in a strip mall next to a laundromat, the shop reportedly mimics the Starbucks menu, but places the word “dumb” in front of every product.

“We’re evaluating our options,” said Olson, when asked if the real Starbucks had any intention of suing Dumb Starbucks.

He also emphasized that the real Starbucks as “no affiliation whatsoever” with Dumb Starbucks.

Attempts to contact representatives of Dumb Starbucks were unsuccessful.

Founded in 1971, the Seattle-based Starbucks has a logo of a green-and-white mermaid wearing a crown with a five-pointed star.

The Dumb Starbucks logo looks exactly the same, but with the addition of the word “dumb.”

By Aaron Smith

The-CNN-Wire
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