The trademark controversy between Sattar Buksh cafe and Starbucks that had started in 2013 has ended with a Pakistani court decision in favor of the local cafe. The ruling permits Sattar Buksh to use its name, moustached-man logo and branding without change.
Sattar Buksh Cafe vs Starbucks Coffee – Background of the Case
Sattar Bukh cafe, established in 2013, was famous in Karachi due to its parody-type branding. The name was inspired by the South Asian culture and the logo included a moustached man rather than the siren of Starbucks. The menu had a combination of local and international cuisine, such as burgers, pizzas, and tea as well as coffee.
Although Starbucks is not involved in doing business in Pakistan, it filed a complaint claiming that the cafe had engaged in trademark infringement and consumer confusion in the Trademarks Ordinance, 2001. The case dragged on in Pakistani courts more than ten years.
On September 10-11, 2025, the court decided that the branding of Sattar Buksh cafe was cultural parody and not infringement. According to the judges, three points are important:
- The name was culturally and historically based in the area.
- The moustached logo created a local identity.
- Customer confusion was not evident with Starbucks.
This decision put an end to the Sattar Buksh cafe vs Starbucks coffee case as the cafe was still allowed to do business under its current branding.
According to management, the café now runs multiple outlets in Karachi and has plans to expand further. While financial details were not disclosed, the publicity surrounding the legal win has increased customer interest and tourism to the outlets.
