Pub Owner Responds To Starbucks Lawsuit Threat With Six Bucks, Hilarious Letter

This is one way to respond to a lawyer’s letter from Starbucks, and we’re sure the coffee chain is none too happy with the way they look now that the story has gained press attention:

A billion-dollar company crushed the little guy out of six dollars.

That’s how much Missouri pub owner Jeff Briton sent the Starbucks company after it alleged he was violating its trademark.
Briton, who owns the Exit 6 Pub and Brewery in Cottleville, Mo., posted a letter he received from the corporation on his business’ Facebook page.

In the letter, Starbucks claimed the pub was selling a beer called “Frappicino,” which three customers referenced on the website Untappd. Starbucks said it was phonetically identical to its trademarked drink Frappuccino and told them to cease its sale immediately. The company said the similar name would likely cause confusion, mistake or deception among people who theoretically would mistake coffee and beer. Or the Exit 6 Pub with a Starbucks.

By: dave-dr-gonzo

David Hirsch, a.k.a. Dave "Doctor" Gonzo*, is a renegade record producer, video producer, writer, reformed corporate shill, and still-registered lobbyist for non-one-percenter performing artists and musicians. He lives in a heavily fortified compound in one of Manhattan's less trendy neighborhoods.

* Hirsch is the third person to use the pseudonym, a not-so-veiled tribute to journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson, with the permission of his predecessors Gene Gaudette of American Politics Journal (currently webmaster and chief bottlewasher at Liberaland) and Stephen Meese at Smashmouth Politics.