Pakistan: Karachi cafe Sattar Buksh wins trademark battle against Starbucks

A cafe in Karachi has grabbed global attention after winning a trademark battle against coffee giant Starbucks. The cafe, named Sattar Buksh, became known not only for its coffee but also for its cheeky branding — a round green logo featuring a moustached man, which many felt was a playful nod to Starbucks’ famous mermaid emblem.

The name and design sparked debate online, attracting both curiosity and controversy, eventually drawing Starbucks into a legal fight despite the brand not having outlets in Pakistan at the time.

Origins of Sattar Buksh

Sattar Buksh was launched in 2013 by entrepreneurs Rizwan Ahmad and Adnan Yousuf. From the start, its branding caught the eye due to its visual and phonetic resemblance to Starbucks. The cafe’s founders, however, insisted their brand was intended as satire with cultural roots, not as an imitation.

They explained that ‘Sattar Buksh’ is a culturally meaningful name in Pakistan, linked to centuries of history. To further distinguish themselves, they pointed out differences in logo elements, such as the moustached figure, fonts, and colour tones. They later added disclaimers to clarify that their cafe had no connection to Starbucks.

Unique menu and identity

Beyond branding, Sattar Buksh focused on building its own identity with a quirky mix of food and drinks. Its menu combines local and international flavours, offering burgers, pizzas, and even shisha. Some dishes come with a playful twist — like the ‘Besharam Burger,’ served without buns, and the ‘LOC Pizza,’ which playfully references the India-Pakistan border with vegetarian and non-vegetarian halves.

These touches, the founders argued, showed that their cafe was rooted in local humour and creativity rather than copying a multinational chain.

Court sides with Sattar Buksh

Under Pakistani trademark law, well-known brands are protected from imitation that could mislead customers or weaken their identity. Starbucks argued Sattar Buksh broke these rules, but the local cafe countered that parody, cultural context, and its unique menu set it apart.

The court eventually ruled in favour of Sattar Buksh, allowing it to continue operating. The decision was seen as a rare victory of local creativity over a global giant.