Starbucks vs. 'Charbucks': Judge says no trademark infringement

MANCHESTER, N.H. --A New Hampshire micro roastery that sells a dark coffee blend called "Charbucks" hasn't harmed coffee giant Starbucks, a federal judge ruled.

Seattle-based Starbucks failed to prove its image was tarnished by the Charbucks brand, U.S. District Court Judge Laura Taylor Swain in New York wrote last week.

She said that in adopting the name, the Tuftonboro-based Black Bear Micro Roastery intended to take advantage of the similarity to the Starbucks' name. But, she ruled, the evidence did not support an inference it was done to mislead consumers about a connection between the two.

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