Indian coffee chain “Sardar Buksh” has agreed to change its name, which sounded similar to the name of American coffee chain “Starbucks.” The Indian firm decided to change its name after getting sued by the U.S. based company in Delhi High Court.
The Indian firm agreed before the high court on Sept.27 to run its business under the new trademark name but sought time of two months to change it. Court accepted this request to give the Indian company time to change the name and logo, reported the Indian Express.
Sardar Buksh partners told the court that an e-mail has been exchanged between both parties and they have agreed to the terms and conditions regarding the changes in logo and name for their Delhi based outlets, added the report.
As per report of news agency AFP, Starbucks started legal proceedings against “Sardar Buksh” in July this year. the Indian firm with 25 shops in New Delhi was sued by Starbucks, which entered India in 2012 by partnering Tata Group and now runs 125 outlets in the country. Globally, Starbucks runs 28,000 outlets in 70 countries.
On Aug.1, Delhi High Court gave its interim order and asked the Indian firm to change the name to “Sardarji-Bakhsh.” Court had also asked them to change their logo as well.
The logo of Sardar Buksh is designed in a circle with Green and black color, showing a man in turban in its center. Starbucks had claimed that this is like its logo which has similar green and black circle design with a two tailed mermaid in the center.
Now, the Indian firm has agreed to give its business a new name, which is not much different from the earlier one. The new name “Sardarji-Bakhsh” will be adopted within two months, added the report.
“Our name rhymed with Starbucks which is why the court has ruled in their favor,” AFP quoted Sanmeet Singh Kalra, co-founder of SardarBuksh as saying.
It is not the first case, in which a local firm is being sued by a global giant because of similar brand name case. In 2015, Ludhiana-based “Mr Singh Burger King” was taken to the court by U.S. based Burger King for having a similar sounding name. Indian firm had to change its name to “Mr Singh Food King.”