KARACHI : A small Karachi cafe has scored a big victory against global coffee giant Starbucks after a Pakistani court ruled in its favour in a closely watched trademark battle.

The dispute began when Sattar Buksh, a cafe founded in 2013, was accused of mimicking Starbucks’ name and logo. The Seattle-based chain argued that the local brand’s round green emblem featuring a moustached man too closely resembled its own iconic mermaid logo, potentially confusing customers.

But Sattar Buksh’s founders, Rizwan Ahmad and Adnan Yousuf, countered that their brand was deliberately satirical, rooted in South Asian culture and humour. The name itself is a playful twist on a common Pakistani name, while the moustached mascot reflects a distinctly local identity. They further stressed that the café had clear disclaimers distancing itself from any link to Starbucks.

Beyond branding, the café carved its own niche through an offbeat menu, offering not just coffee but also pizzas, shisha, and quirky dishes like the “Besharam Burger” (served without buns) and the “LOC Pizza” — a tongue-in-cheek split between vegetarian and non-vegetarian halves.

In siding with the local café, the court dismissed Starbucks’ claims, effectively allowing Sattar Buksh to keep its name and continue its operations. The verdict was celebrated as a rare win for homegrown businesses defending their creative freedom against multinational giants.

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