Starbucks loses bid to dismiss labor union's trademark case

By Blake Brittain

Oct 2 (Reuters) - A federal judge in Pennsylvania on Friday denied Starbucks' SBUX.O request to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a union that represents thousands of its employees in an attempt to counter the coffee chain's trademark infringement claims.

• US District Judge Michael Baylson rejected Starbucks' argument at an early stage of the case that there was no live controversy when the union sued in April because of a 2024 "memorandum of understanding" between the parties

• The lawsuit was brought by Workers United to clear its use of the name "Starbucks Workers United" and a version of the company's logo with a raised fist

• The trademark dispute comes amid ongoing strife between Starbucks and the union in the five years since the first Starbucks employees voted to unionize

• Spokespeople for Starbucks and Workers United did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the decision

• Starbucks first sued the union in Iowa in 2023 for allegedly infringing its trademarks, and the union filed its lawsuit in Pennsylvania on the same day asking for a ruling that the union does not infringe the trademarks

• The parties dismissed their cases in 2025, but the union refiled its lawsuit in April and Starbucks refiled its Iowa lawsuit in June after failing to reach an agreement

The case is Workers United v. Starbucks, US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, No. 2:26-cv-02202.

For Workers United: Travis Silva of Keker Van Nest & Peters

For Starbucks: Sharon Nelles of Sullivan & Cromwell