In 2019, Heytea made a cross-industry foray into coffee products, blending milk tea elements into coffee and applying to register the "Heytea Coffee" trademark. However, the China National Intellectual Property Administration deemed the trademark deceptive and similar to the cited trademark "Xicha," rejecting the registration application. Heytea's affiliated company disagreed and sued the China National Intellectual Property Administration. The court of first instance upheld the rejection decision, finding that the disputed trademark could easily mislead the public about the characteristics and quality of the goods and cause confusion with another party's prior trademark. This article reviews the case process and the court's key rulings, for coffee enthusiasts to learn about brand trademark protection developments. [more…]

The new tea beverage sector continues to heat up, and the phenomenon of brand trademarks being maliciously infringed upon is becoming increasingly frequent. Well-known brands such as Heytea, The Alley, and Sexy Tea have all encountered counterfeit troubles, and this time it is Mixue Bingcheng, with stores all over the world, that is affected. A milk tea brand called Mixueyue was sued by Mixue Bingcheng for trademark infringement because its text and trademark were highly similar to the Mixue Bingcheng series of trademarks. The final judgment ordered Mixueyue to pay 512,184 yuan in compensation, and its appeal request was rejected. Mixue Bingcheng has more than 22,000 stores worldwide, and its A-share listing application has also been accepted, while Mixueyue Company has now been deregistered. Behind this lawsuit is the strategy of leading tea beverage brands building a legal moat through defensive trademarks. This article takes you through the whole case, the backgrounds of both parties, and the operating logic of defensive trademarks. [more…]

Recently, Oatly, a giant in the oat milk industry, attempted to register the word "Barista" as a trademark in New Zealand, but encountered strong opposition from local food wholesaler Bidfood. Bidfood argued that the term has long been a generic name in the plant-based milk sector and should not be monopolized by any company. The New Zealand Intellectual Property Office ultimately supported Bidfood's position, determining that "Barista" is a descriptive term when used for dairy alternatives. This incident not only highlights the challenges of determining generic names in international trademark registration but also brings to mind similar cases in China, such as the trademark squatting of "Geisha Coffee." Where exactly is the boundary of trademark protection? What potential risks does the registration of generic names pose to the industry? This article will provide a detailed analysis for you. [more…]

Blue Bottle Coffee, deeply ingrained in people's minds with its minimalist small blue bottle image, has always been regarded as the Apple of the coffee world, and its blue-and-white colored utensils are also highly sought after by fans. However, the brand has not had a smooth journey in trademark enforcement. This week, Blue Bottle Coffee lost a trademark lawsuit in the United States, as a judge in the Federal District Court for the Northern District of California denied its motion for judgment against the coffee utensil brand Blue Brew, finding that the two trademarks are clearly different and that consumers would not be confused. What impact will this ruling have on Blue Bottle Coffee's trademark protection strategy? Let's take a closer look. [more…]

China Post has made a high-profile entry into the coffee market, yet it has encountered setbacks in the trademark registration process. In April of this year, several "Post Coffee POST COFFEE" trademarks submitted by the postal group all received rejection notices. This incident has sparked widespread attention: is it because common terms lack distinctiveness, or because they are similar to existing trademarks? Will the trademark obstacle affect the daily operations of Post Coffee? At the same time, disputes over "who is the first Post Coffee" continue to ferment in Xiamen, Zhongshan, and other places. This article will sort out the sequence of events, analyze the legal logic behind the trademark rejection, and bring a professional perspective from Front Street Coffee. [more…]

The trademark dispute in the tea beverage industry is once again making waves. Previously, Coffee Workshop reported that "Cha Yan Guan Se" lost its trademark infringement lawsuit against "Cha Yan Yue Se," and "Cha Yan Yue Se" won its counterclaim against "Cha Yan Guan Se." Now another one has emerged: "Cha Yan Yue Se." This trademark, applied for registration in 2018, was declared invalid by the National Intellectual Property Administration because it was highly similar to the genuine Cha Yan Yue Se in terms of text composition, pronunciation, and graphic design. The registrant, a certain Guo, refused to accept the ruling and actually sued the CNIPA in court, but was ultimately rejected by the Beijing Intellectual Property Court. From "Cha Yan Guan Se" to "Cha Yan Yue Se," imitators keep emerging one after another. This farce once again reminds us: trademark protection is by no means child's play. Although the road to brand rights protection is long, the law will ultimately provide a fair answer. [more…]

After Luckin Coffee's co-branded sauce-flavored latte with Moutai went viral, a number of solid beverage products with highly similar packaging styles quickly emerged on the market. These products not only have similar names, but also almost copy the red background with blue-and-white diagonal bar composition of the original packaging. Some lawyers pointed out that using a similar trademark on the same or similar goods without the permission of the trademark registrant, where it is likely to cause confusion, constitutes infringement of the exclusive right to use a registered trademark. However, some manufacturers claim that the sauce-flavored latte category cannot be registered and that the color scheme is not protected by copyright, which has triggered discussion about the boundary between imitation and infringement. [more…]

Recently, a coffee shop branded "People's Coffee" sparked widespread discussion in Shijiazhuang. A subsequent media investigation found that similar stores have covered 18 provinces and 20 cities nationwide, with nearly 30 directly operated outlets. Its parent company, YaoChao (Shanghai) Culture Communication Co., Ltd., has applied for the "People's Coffee" trademark multiple times since 2022, but all applications were rejected. It only holds two registered trademarks: "Chao People's Coffee" and "YaoChao People's Coffee." However, the actual store signs do not display the words "Chao" or "YaoChao." This phenomenon has drawn public attention to commercial signage compliance, trademark usage norms, and potential legal risks, and lawyers have also offered professional interpretations. [more…]

In today's increasingly fierce competition in the coffee industry, it is not easy for independent shops to establish a foothold with a unique trademark. Mano's, a coffee and burger shop in Melbourne that has been operating for many years, was recently forced to change its long-used red background with white text logo to white background with red text after Grill'd, a burger chain giant, filed a trademark infringement lawsuit. The owner, Mano, was shocked by this action, believing that the two trademarks and store styles were clearly different and did not constitute infringement. However, facing pressure from Grill'd's professional legal team, Mano was unable to respond to the lawsuit and could only compromise. Grill'd insisted that this move was to protect its own brand from being exploited. This trademark dispute between a giant and a small shop has triggered widespread discussion about the boundaries of brand protection and fair competition. [more…]

Luckin Coffee's anti-counterfeiting rights protection case in Thailand has gone through twists and turns, finally culminating in a victorious judgment. In early 2022, Chinese tourists discovered counterfeit "Luckin stores" in Thailand, after which Luckin continued to pursue rights protection actions, only to unexpectedly lose in the first-instance trial at the end of 2023, sparking widespread attention. Now, the latest ruling by the Thai court confirms that Luckin holds prior rights to the trademark in question, orders the defendants to cease using the related signage, and requires payment of a one-time compensation of 10 million Thai baht plus ongoing compensation of 100,000 Thai baht per day, with the cumulative amount already exceeding 46 million Thai baht (approximately 10 million RMB). The defendant, Thailand's Royal 50R Group, has a complex background and had previously squatted on 191 Chinese trademarks; this judgment marks an important milestone in Luckin's overseas rights protection journey. [more…]

After Starbucks exited the Russian market, its trademark protection in Russia may face termination. The owner of Stars Coffee, which acquired Starbucks' Russian assets, has filed a claim with a court seeking to terminate the protection of Starbucks' trademarks. This move aims to reduce trademark infringement risks and pave the way for store expansion. This article will provide a detailed introduction to the background, progress, and possible impact of this event. [more…]

In recent years, Geisha coffee has continued to rise in popularity within China's specialty coffee circles, but recently a company successfully registered trademarks such as "Red Label Geisha" and "Champion Geisha," and attempted to also claim "Geisha Coffee," sparking industry concerns about the privatization of a generic name. This article traces Geisha's journey from Ethiopian forests to the Panama Hacienda La Esmeralda, explains the origins of the red, green, and blue label grading systems, as well as the meaning of "Champion Geisha" in BOP auctions, and explores the risks that registering generic names as trademarks may pose to coffee professionals — a topic worthy of attention for every coffee lover and practitioner. [more…]

In recent years, as public awareness of intellectual property has grown, trademark disputes surrounding well-known brands have become increasingly common. The two major new-style tea beverage brands Chayan Yuese and Mixue Bingcheng once joined forces to oppose the "Chayan Bingcheng" trademark, yet the China National Intellectual Property Administration ultimately ruled that the trademark be registered. This incident not only reflects the real-world dilemmas faced by brand protection but also sparked discussions about copycat culture and consumer choice. This article will sort out the sequence of events, review the historical origins of the copycat phenomenon, and explore the interplay between innovation and imitation in the new tea beverage industry. [more…]

Recently, a Hong Kong netizen spotted a coffee shop called "Maners" in a large local supermarket. Its logo, decor, and product posters closely resemble those of mainland Manner, and it even offers a 5-yuan discount for bringing your own cup, sparking suspicions of a knockoff. However, the truth is surprising—this store is actually Manner's legitimate outlet in Hong Kong. Because the "Manner" trademark has already been registered by another Hong Kong company, Manner was forced to adjust its name and launch as "Maners." The trademark application was rejected and failed on review. Although it can currently continue to be used, it is not legally protected and carries future infringement risks. This renaming saga not only led fans to mistakenly attack the real brand but also sounded a warning about trademark layout when brands go overseas. [more…]

A while back, a "ladies-who-lunch afternoon tea" trend took the internet by storm. A trendy café in Ningbo drew crowds of customers checking in after it printed "LV" and "CHANEL" logos on its coffee and cakes, but it also caught the attention of market regulators. After investigation, law enforcement determined that the shop's actions did not constitute trademark infringement, but were suspected of violating the Anti-Unfair Competition Law, and it was ultimately fined and had its printing molds confiscated. Behind this case lies the delicate game between creative marketing and legal boundaries. Today, Front Street Coffee will walk everyone through what happened and talk about the bottom line and limits of brand marketing. [more…]

After Starbucks announced to suspend its business in Russia and withdraw from the Russian market last year, the founder of the local famous catering company Pinskiy & Co, Anton Pinsky, and the Russian rap singer Timati collaborated to acquire Starbuc [more…]

This October, "Duck Shit Aroma" milk tea sparked a craze on social media, bringing Chaoshan's Phoenix Dancong tea into the public eye. After Nayuki's Tea seized the trend by launching a Duck Shit Aroma beverage, it then applied to register the trademark "Nayuki Duck Shit Aroma," triggering heated discussion online. Supporters see this as a differentiated brand strategy, while opponents question whether a famous regional tea should be monopolized by a company. In fact, tea beverage brands such as Uncle Qiu had long made Duck Shit Aroma a standard tea base—so is tying a niche ingredient to a commercial brand reasonable? This article walks you through the whole incident and explores the boundary between innovation in the tea beverage industry and trademark protection. [more…]

BYD, a leading domestic new energy vehicle company, recently submitted registration applications to the China National Intellectual Property Administration for two trademarks, "Wudi Xiaoyin" and "Laibei Di Xiaoyin," with the international classification pointing to the food and beverage and accommodation sector. The applications are currently awaiting substantive examination. This move is seen by the industry as a new step by BYD on the path of diversified operations. In fact, as early as 2023, BYD had already established themed restaurants and cafes in Singapore, integrating automobile displays with dining experiences. From overseas experimentation to domestic trademark reserves, this automaker seems intent on embedding coffee culture into its showroom service scenarios. This article will sort out the specific information of BYD's trademark applications, review its past attempts in the food and beverage and coffee sector, and analyze the strategic intent behind this cross-industry move. [more…]

After the change of ownership of Starbucks' assets in Russia, the naming of the new brand has drawn attention. On August 12, the Russian Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) received applications for Sturbucks (not a typo) and three other trademarks, with the final name yet to be determined. Previously, rapper Timur Yunusov, along with Anton Pinsky, owner of the catering company Pinskiy&co, and the Syndicate company under Senator Arsen Kanokov, jointly acquired and managed Starbucks' assets in Russia. The new brand is planned to open in mid-August and will be open to the media on August 16. They had considered using a Lego bear as the logo and incorporating the singer's signature, but later switched to thermal printing due to the workload. This article reviews the sequence of events, trademark options, and netizen reactions. [more…]

A trademark dispute spanning China and Thailand is continuing to escalate. Thailand's Royal 50R Group has filed a lawsuit with the court, demanding that China's Luckin Coffee pay 10 billion Thai baht in economic damages, on the grounds that Thailand's Luckin has legally registered the local trademark, while China Luckin's infringement accusations have hindered its business plans. China's Luckin had previously issued a statement saying that the Thailand stores were counterfeits, but on December 1 the Thai court ruled against China's Luckin. At present, China's Luckin has responded that the situation remains to be verified. This article will sort out the full picture of the incident, analyze the ins and outs of this trademark dispute, and follow up on subsequent developments. [more…]