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Starbucks sues indie artist for $500k over coffee cup bongs, wins

The line of “dabuccino” bongs reportedly sold for between US$200 and US$8,000

US coffee giant Starbucks has been awarded over half a million dollars after it sued Oregon glass artist James Landgraf for his Starbucks-cup-shaped bongs.

A judge ruled in favour of Starbucks – awarding it US$410,580 (A$535k) after Landgraf failed to appear in court, reports Eater.

The line of “dabuccino” bongs reportedly sold for between US$200 and US$8,000.

“We are pleased with the court’s decision,” said a Starbucks spokesperson in a statement.

“Starbucks has made significant investments to develop our brand and intellectual property over the past 45 years. We have an obligation to protect our intellectual property from infringement in order to retain our exclusive rights to it.”

Unfortunately for Landgraf it seems that the “parody laws” infamously used by Nathan Fielder in his mock very obviously real series Nathan For You (for his Dumb Starbucks store) didn’t apply.

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