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Dumb Starbucks: Coffee As Art

Kelly Masuda |
February 22, 2014 | 8:21 p.m. PST

Staff Writer

Nathan Fielder, the creator of "Dumb Starbucks". (CleftClips/Creative Commons Flickr)
Nathan Fielder, the creator of "Dumb Starbucks". (CleftClips/Creative Commons Flickr)
By now, the Los Feliz faux coffee shop titled Dumb Starbucks has been heard by almost every Los Angeles resident. If the name doesn't sound familiar, Dumb Starbucks was a coffee shop that was almost an exact replica of the popular chain Starbucks. Once the shop popped up, it caused a frenzy among the public and press. Satirizing Starbucks, Dumb Starbucks sold items called "dumb iced vanilla latte," "dumb blonde roast," "dumb jazz standards," "dumb taste of cuba," and "dumb Nora (sic) Jones." The store even went as far as having "dumb" music CDs. 

The creator was revealed as Comedy Central host of "Nathan For You," Nathan Fielder. The show "Nathan For You" is known for its pranks that typically surround small businesses. The mastermind created a video to go along with the prank in which he explains his plans to get rich off of his creation. 

During its operation, many people wondered how Dumb Starbucks would last due to legal reasons and eventually, the parody coffee shop was shut down by the Los Angeles County Board of Health due to operating without a health permit. However, Fielder and those who helped him say that what they were doing was completely legal under the parody law.

"Although we are a fully functioning coffee shop, for legal reasons Dumb Starbucks needs to be categorized as a work of parody art. So, in the eyes of the law, our 'coffee shop' is actually an art gallery and the 'coffee' you're buying is actually the art. But that's for our lawyers to worry about. All you need to do is enjoy our delicious coffee," stated Dumb Starbucks.

As far as Starbuck's reaction to the entire event, they are taking it with humor. Their name however, is trademarked and Starbucks says Dumb Starbucks cannot use it. 

Others are taking Dumb Starbucks not as well.

"Dumb Starbucks is copyright and trademark infringement on steroids. Simply calling something a 'parody' does not provide some kind of magical protection against infringement," said Aaron J. Moss, a partner at Greenberg Glusker, a law firm based in Los Angeles. "You can't just take a famous logo and trade dress, call it dumb and use it to sell the very same products in competition with the company you're making fun of."

Additionally, since the quick opening and closing of Dumb Starbucks, Starbucks' shares have dropped by 2 percent.

Reach Staff Writer Kelly Masuda here



 

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