Date:         Fri, 21 Oct 2005 21:39:55 -0700
Reply-To:     Bernard <vwbus85@SHAW.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bernard <vwbus85@SHAW.CA>
Subject:      Re: Names?
In-Reply-To:  <c53996063a71adc9902f6af9ca215639@knology.net>
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In the quiet Queen Charlotte Islands the Haida nation opened a coffee
shop called
HaidaBucks. Buck, of course, referring to a male member of the Haida
nation.
Well you guessed it, Starbucks legal folks wrote saying  that  if
name was not changed
they would be going to court.

Haidabucks

I've wondered how this HadiaBucks thing would turn out.



Lately, the coffee in Masset, a small town on the remote island of
Haida Gwaii, tastes especially sweet. That's because HaidaBucks, a
small indigenous-owned coffee house and restaurant located there, is
savouring its victory over Starbucks and its claims of trademark
infringement.

In true David-vs.-Goliath fashion, HaidaBucks stared down a multi-
billion-dollar global enterprise. "We won," said co-owner Darin
Swanson. "We did more than defend our name; we defended our honour as
indigenous peoples, and our right to our heritage."

It began when Starbucks alleged that the small, struggling business
was violating Starbucks' trademark rights. Threatened with legal
action if they did not change their name or logo, HaidaBucks did not
back down.

Instead, the bucks enlisted the help of a Victoria law firm Arvay
Finlay, and launched a massive web-based campaign with the help of
West Virginia, USA businessman Lane Baldwin. Now, after months of
legal wrangling and a swell of public support for HaidaBucks, it
appears that Starbucks is the one that backed down.

HaidaBucks has recently received a letter from StarBucks which
concludes "Starbucks considers this matter closed". And with that,
HaidaBucks' triumph is complete. [continue]